Hundreds of students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against the anti-masses stance of the PENGASAN, which, according to them, is adversely affecting the masses.
The students’ body also frowned against what it described as the anti-masses stance of the PENGASSAN and the forced unionisation of workers at the Dangote Refinery, while also calling for an end to union harassment and industrial blackmail of local refineries.
The peaceful protest held at the Oworo Berger in Lagos saw students and youths carrying placards with inscriptions such as ‘Dangote Refinery-Pride of Africa’, ‘Stop the sabotage’, ‘Save Dangote Refinery’, ‘Stop the politics of petroleum’, when you attack Dangote, you attack development, support indigenous industries and not monopoly and calling the government to action on the well-being of the masses.
NANS President, Comrade Olusola Oladoja, warned international saboteurs and their local collaborators to desist from frustrating Dangote Refinery and other emerging private investments in the oil and gas sector.
Oladoja, who was represented by the NANS National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Adeyemi Ajasa, described the protest as a national warning signal to the government and the industry actors that Nigerian students and the youths are fully awakened.
He said, ‘The danger of economic sabotage cannot be overemphasised. The Nigerian experience in the textile industry stands as a tragic warning. The textile industry was once the second largest employer of labour after the Federal Government, but it was destroyed through the duty-free importation and the government’s failure to protect local industries.
‘We reject the same negligence in the petroleum sector. We won’t allow sabotage of the industry and the undue union pressure or policies, hostilities towards private refineries like Dangote and BUA Refineries.
‘The emerging conspiracy against private refineries is well noted. The current importers of petroleum products and exporters of crude oil, including the DAPPMAN, International Oil Companies (IOC) are using trade unions, industry regulators and government agencies to frustrate the operations of private refineries.
‘The most recent of this is the unconstitutional attempt by PENGASSAN to impose union membership on workers of Dangote Refinery. This is an act of cohesion and a violation of section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution as amended, which guarantees freedom of association.
‘Private refinery workers have every right to choose their form of representation, either or not to join any union. The academic staff in private universities are not compelled to join ASUU. Also, lecturers in private polytechnics are not under ASUOP, while teachers in private colleges of education are not members of COEASU. So why should workers at the Dangote Refinery be forced to join any union?
‘This is nothing but a calculated attempt to frustrate Dangote Refinery and other emerging private investments in the petroleum sector. NANS will resist this move with every legitimate move possible.’
Oladoja made four-point demands of the Federal government. This, according to him, includes ‘prioritising crude oil supply to Nigerian refineries. The Federal Government, through the NNPC, must make an open commitment to give supply priority of crude oil to all Nigerian refineries, including private refineries.
‘The government just put an end to crude undervaluation to foreign refineries. There must be an immediate end to selling crude at a cheaper rate to foreign refineries. Local refineries must be incentivised.
‘There must be less priority on importation of petroleum products at the expense of local refineries. The Nigerian students stand firmly on the side of industrial growth and job creation. We won’t fold our arms while international saboteurs and their local collaborators destroy the new Nigeria we are currently enjoying.’