Daily lens Report
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has slammed Vice President Kashim Shettima for describing the Dangote Refinery as a “national asset,” accusing the federal government of placing corporate interests above the law.
In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, Ajaero described Shettima’s remark as “a national tragedy,” warning that such rhetoric suggests wealth and influence now outweigh the rule of law in Nigeria.
He alleged that the Dangote Group has been violating workers’ rights, particularly their freedom to join unions, and defended the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for standing up against what he called “corporate impunity.”
According to Ajaero, “No company, no matter how big, ‘strategic,’ or well-connected, can operate outside the law or be bigger than Nigeria. If the Dangote Refinery is granted privileges above the law, the government must be ready for the storm such injustice will unleash. There can be no peace without justice.”
The NLC president accused the government of waging a “class war” by siding with the powerful against ordinary workers, warning that ignoring labour rights in favour of corporate interests endangers national stability and social justice.
