VICE President Kashim Shettima has declared that Nigeria is bigger than any trade union, urging labour unions to put national interest above sectional concerns amid ongoing disputes involving the Dangote Refinery and oil workers.
News Point Nigeria reports that Shettima made the statement in Abuja on Monday while speaking at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES31) with the theme “The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030.”
The Vice President’s remarks came in reaction to the industrial action by members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over a dispute with the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest privately owned oil processing facility.
Shettima stressed that the multi-billion-dollar refinery is not just a private investment but a strategic national asset that must be protected, supported, and sustained for the long-term benefit of the Nigerian economy.
“Aliko Dangote is not an individual; he’s an institution and a leading light in Nigeria’s economic parliament,” Shettima said.
“How we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders will judge us. If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, he might today be worth between $70 and $80 billion.
But he chose to invest in his own country, and we owe it to future generations to jealously protect, promote, preserve, and defend the interests of this great nation.”
The Vice President cautioned both the labour movement and the organised private sector to show patriotism and restraint in addressing industrial disagreements, warning that holding the nation to ransom over disputes could undermine ongoing economic reforms.
“I wish to call for caution, retrospection, and a deeper sense of patriotism from both labour and the organised private sector,” he said.
“It’s not about holding the whole nation to ransom because of a minor labour dispute. Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us.”
Shettima emphasised that the federal government remains committed to economic stability and private sector growth, adding that the refinery represents a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial transformation and energy security.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Olaniyi Yusuf, expressed concern over Nigeria’s weak foreign direct investment inflows despite modest fiscal improvements.
Yusuf stated that the treatment of domestic investors serves as a strong signal to international investors about Nigeria’s economic credibility and policy stability.
“How we treat domestic investors will provide the right signals for foreign investors,” Yusuf said.
“Policy predictability, investment protection, and transparent mechanisms for resolving business disputes are crucial for rebuilding trust in the economy.”
He called on the government to ensure clarity, continuity, and consistency in economic policies, while acknowledging that the economy still faces challenges such as high inflation, mounting debt-service obligations, and low investor confidence.
Yusuf further noted that sustainable reforms and investor-friendly governance would determine whether Nigeria achieves its ambition of becoming a prosperous and inclusive economy by 2030.