Citing economic benefits accruing from the multi-billion dollars 650,000 bpd capacity Dangote Refinery currently under construction, Organized Labour at the weekend threw its weight behind the project, describing it as a singular investment that will define the future of Nigeria and the African continent.
Leaders of trade unions of Nigeria Labour Congress such as Textile, Chemical, Electricity, Automobile, Engineering as well as Petroleum and Gas, who are affiliates of international labour platform called IndustriALL Global Union, said the size of the refinery project spoke volume of the entrepreneurial spirit of Aliko Dangote.
Calling on the Federal Government to give all the support needed to aid timely completion of the project, the labour leaders recalled that more than 40 “handbag businessmen” were initially issued licence to operate refinery during the Obasanjo regime, but unfortunately, none of them has been seen to clear the land let alone start construction.
The President of National Union of Chemical Rubber Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, who is the Auditor of the NLC and Chairman of the Nigerian Council of IndusriALL Global Union, Comrade Babatunde Goke Olatunji, said the investment patriotism of Aliko Dangote is unparalleled and disclosed that labour has recommended Dangote to United Nations for Africa Industrial Development Ambassador.
Olatunji explained that the labour leaders were motivated to give their views to newsmen on their findings on the Dangote Refinery after a working tour of the project in Lagos because of the massive potential job opportunities and the economic benefits upon completion, which is what labour is after.
Their visit to the refinery, according to him, was in tandem with the industrial development sustainability goal of the global union.
The union also has as part of its goals the defence of workers right, building union power, fighting precarious wok and engaging capital.
Olatunji said: “To our amazement, we couldn’t move round the whole of the refinery and the fertilizer sites because of the huge size which is eight times bigger than the present Victoria Island.
“Upon completion, the refinery alone is capable of employing directly 300,000 workers while the fertilizer will attract about 5000 direct jobs.
“This is highly welcome in view of the present jobs depleting economy of Nigeria.
“With the present policies and efforts towards the diversification of Nigeria’s economy, the fertilizer plant shall encourage and enhance agricultural sector in no small measure as there shall be massive food production while cash crops shall equally constitute raw materials for our manufacturing sector and for exportation.
“Nigeria urgently needs to industrialize by evolving good economic and industrial policies that will encourage investment culture of individuals.”
Olatunji enthused that labour is so pleased with Dangote for all his investments, adding: “If there is no investment, there wont be jobs, when there are no jobs, there won’t be workers, when there are no workers, there won’t be unions.
“This is why we have to do all to encourage people like Dangote.
“If we have 20 of Dangote in Nigeria, the country will be an industrial hub in Africa.”
Olatunji then disclosed that the union has recommended Alhaji Aliko Dangote for the award of Industrial Development Ambassador by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
In his own remark, the immediate past Secretary of the Textile workers union, who is the Vice President, IndustriALL Global Union, Africa, Issa Aremu, maintained that for Africa to move forward, it must trade on goods produced locally to stimulate competitiveness within the region, which exactly is the approach of the Dangote Group.
Recalling how past leaders leaders developed each of the North, East and West through resources from agricultural produce and how Nigeria was once self-sufficient in petroleum production before it became a net exporter now, Aremu said the Dangote refinery is on the verge of correcting the anomaly.
He described as the shame of a nation that it will take an ingenuity of someone like Dangote to bring Nigeria back on the map of countries whose people are striving to make the country industrial nation.
According to him, ahead on the January 1, 2021 takeoff of the African Continental Free Trade Area, Africa must industrialise to achieve this without relying on international markets.
While calling for an urgent need to address insecurity lapses in the country, Aremu added that insecurity was becoming a threat to industrialisation and also to a successful realisation the AfCFTA.
“Whether we are going to develop or not depends on our ability to provide security for all,” he added.
Also speaking on the Dangote Refinery, the Secretary of Nigeria Council of IndustriALL Global, Mbang Ntukube, while lauding the size of the investment in the refinery, petrochemical and the fertilizer, urged the government to see the need to start providing critical infrastructure now before the situation goes out of hand when the refinery becomes operational.
Ntukube stated Dangote could not afford to put in place such economy transformative projects and still be expected to be constructing the roads.
He said: “Government has to start now.
“That is purely government’s responsibility.
“If Dangote gives us refinery, jobs, foreign exchange, will he still be expected to provide roads and other amenities?
“Certainly no.”
IndustriALL Global union represents 50 million workers from 140 countries of the world in the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors.