Reps Split Over Motion to Shield Dangote Refinery From Labour Unions Amid Economic Concerns

The House of Representatives was sharply divided on Tuesday over a motion seeking to protect the Dangote Refinery and other major private investments from what lawmakers described as “unlawful and adversarial” labour union activities. The motion, sponsored by Alhassan Ado Doguwa (APC, Kano) and Abdulssamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), followed a recent standoff between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery, which temporarily disrupted operations at the multi-billion-dollar facility.

Presenting the motion during plenary, Doguwa warned that the strike action at the $20 billion refinery in the Lekki Free Trade Zone caused significant economic losses — including a three-day production halt that reportedly cost about 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day. He described the refinery as a “strategic national asset” crucial to Nigeria’s energy security and economic growth, cautioning that repeated disruptions by unions could erode investor confidence and deter future investments.

Doguwa and Dasuki both argued that since the refinery operates within a Free Trade Zone, it falls under the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) Act, which exempts such zones from regular labour laws. Quoting Section 18(5) of the Act, they stressed that strikes or lockouts are prohibited within Free Zones for ten years after operations commence. Dasuki added that the government’s failure to enforce these provisions “undermines private sector confidence and violates Nigeria’s investment laws.”

However, Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) supported the motion in principle but urged caution, warning against taking sides without proper investigation. He proposed deleting the enforcement clauses and instead called for the House to invite Dangote, PENGASSAN, and relevant ministries to provide their accounts. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu agreed, emphasizing the need for “fair hearing and legislative due process” before reaching any conclusion.

As debates intensified, Ahmadu Jaha (APC, Borno) proposed a compromise — urging the House leadership, led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, to personally mediate between Dangote Group and PENGASSAN. His suggestion gained broad support, leading the House to drop the enforcement directive and instead mandate its leadership to pursue an amicable settlement through dialogue. The resolution marks a shift from confrontation to cooperation, with lawmakers seeking to protect both investor confidence and workers’ rights in one of Nigeria’s most critical industrial assets.

source: The Guardian