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By Oscar Okhifo
Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that Nigeria is greater than any trade union, warning that no group or association should hold the country to ransom in the name of industrial action.
Speaking on Monday at the opening of the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, Shettima made the comment in reaction to a brewing dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the management of the Dangote Refinery.
The Vice President described the $20 billion refinery as a national asset that must be protected, stressing that its success was critical to Nigeria’s economic revival and self-sufficiency in energy production.
“Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us,” Shettima said.
“We must not hold the nation to ransom over a minor labour dispute. This refinery is not just a private venture, it is a symbol of our national ambition.”
Shettima cautioned labour unions against taking actions that could discourage investment or damage the country’s reputation as a safe and stable business environment.
He noted that how Nigeria treats domestic investors sends a powerful signal to potential foreign investors.
“If we treat our own investors with disdain, what message are we sending to the world? The treatment of local investors is the mirror through which foreign investors judge us,” he added.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Olaniyi Yusuf, underscored the need for consistency and collaboration between government and the private sector, noting that foreign direct investment in Nigeria remains weak due to policy instability and regulatory uncertainty.
The theme of this year’s summit, “The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030,” focuses on strategies to drive inclusive economic growth, restore investor confidence, and create sustainable jobs.
Shettima reiterated the Tinubu administration’s commitment to reforms that would unlock Nigeria’s full economic potential, but emphasized that such efforts required unity and responsibility from all stakeholders, including labour unions.