Dangote Refinery has confirmed the termination of appointments for several Nigerian workers who were members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN). The refinery disclosed this information in a statement released on its X account, following reports that 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery had sacked Nigerian workers due to their membership in PENGASSAN.
According to the company, the decision to terminate the appointments was made due to repeated acts of sabotage that have raised safety concerns and affected operational efficiency. The refinery stated that this exercise was necessary to safeguard the facility from intermittent cases of sabotage, which have had dire consequences on human life and related safety concerns.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery emphasized that it remains vigilant to its internal systems and vulnerabilities to ensure the long-term stability of this strategic national asset. The company stated that it is imperative to protect the refinery for the benefit of Nigerians, partners across Africa, and the thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on it. Currently, over 3,000 Nigerians are actively working in the petroleum refinery, and the company continues to recruit Nigerian talent through its graduate trainee programs and experienced hire recruitment process.
The refinery acknowledged and upheld internationally accepted labor principles, including the right of every worker to freely decide whether or not to join a union. The company reiterated its commitment to workers’ rights and stated that it will continue to work in partnership with its employees, regulators, and stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of safety, transparency, and accountability.
In response to the sackings, PENGASSAN president Festus Osifo has vowed that the workers will be recalled by the company. PENGASSAN has summoned an emergency National Executive Council meeting to discuss the matter, accusing Dangote Refinery of replacing the sacked Nigerian workers with Indians and other expatriates. The development has significant implications for the Nigerian labor market and the energy sector, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days.
