Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday issued a stern caution to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), urging the union to exercise restraint in its dealings with Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and his conglomerate.
Speaking during a plenary session at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit held in Abuja, Shettima described Dangote as “an institution in Nigeria’s economic parlance”, warning that any attempt to undermine him could send damaging signals to foreign investors about the nation’s commitment to supporting homegrown enterprise.
“Aliko Dangote is an institution in Nigeria’s economic parlance, and how we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders will judge us,” Shettima declared.
“If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, he would probably be worth $70 to $80 billion by now, but he chose to invest in his country. We owe it to future generations to jealously protect and promote him,” he added.
The Vice President’s remarks come amid recent tension between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery over alleged labour issues, a dispute that has drawn public attention and raised questions about the industrial harmony within Nigeria’s critical energy sector.
Shettima stressed that national interest must take precedence over organisational disputes, adding that labour and the private sector must handle conflicts with tact and patriotism.
“I wish to call for more caution from both labour and the organised private sector in defining and improving the relationship between labour and industry,” he said.
“Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us,” he added.
He urged the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) to intervene by proposing actionable recommendations that would preserve the stability of major industries while ensuring fair labour practices.
“The government is hereby tasking the NESG to take more than a passing interest in the matter. We expect recommendations from the NESG in addressing this issue, even as the government takes steps to protect big industry,” Shettima stated.
The Vice President reiterated that his message was not partisan but a call for unity and strategic collaboration to secure Nigeria’s economic growth.
“I’m not coming to you as partisan. I’m coming in search of solutions to our national challenges. The fortunes of our economy depend on how we protect those who invest in it,” Shettima stated.
