The ongoing faceoff between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has taken a dramatic twist, with Senator Ali Ndume urging President Bola Tinubu to wield executive power to end the crisis.
PENGASSAN, on Saturday, ordered its members to embark on strike following the sack of 800 workers by Dangote Refinery, a move that has deepened tensions in the oil and gas sector.
But speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, Ndume insisted the president must take drastic action, even if it means acting with an iron fist.
“The best thing is for the president to sign an executive order calling them off. He has the right to dissolve them. In this case, I don’t mind if he acts like a dictator because some situations require very drastic measures,” Ndume said.
The Borno South lawmaker accused PENGASSAN of pursuing private interests at the expense of the nation, declaring that he has always opposed “so-called unionism” that benefits a few individuals rather than the wider public.
