The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has accused the Dangote refinery of replacing sacked Nigerian workers with Indian nationals. This development comes after the union issued an ultimatum to the $19 billion worth of refinery to recall the terminated workers. According to PENGASSAN, over 800 Nigerian workers were unjustly sacked by the refinery.

PENGASSAN has stressed that it will explore all relevant sections of the Nigerian Constitution and labor laws to address the matter if the refinery fails to comply with the ultimatum. The union has emphasized that it will not tolerate the disregard for Nigerian workers, highlighting the importance of valuing and retaining local workforce.

The union’s statement noted that the terminated workers were dedicated and integral to the refinery’s operations. Instead of retaining them, the management chose to replace them with over 2,000 Indian workers, many of whom allegedly lack valid immigration documentation. PENGASSAN has urged the refinery’s management to recall all terminated Nigerian workers, citing the provisions under the Trade Union Act that enshrine the right of workers to organize and join trade unions.

In response, the Dangote Refinery has confirmed that it sacked some Nigerian workers due to alleged sabotage. However, the company claimed that only a small number of staff were affected and that it continues to recruit new employees. The refinery’s statement appears to downplay the severity of the situation, which has sparked a strong reaction from PENGASSAN.

The union has summoned an emergency national executive council meeting to take decisive action on the matter. This development is the latest in a series of tensions between the Dangote Refinery and labor unions, including the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, over the unionization of workers. The dispute highlights the challenges faced by Nigerian workers in the petroleum and natural gas sector, particularly in relation to job security and labor rights.

As the situation unfolds, PENGASSAN’s ultimatum and the refinery’s response will be closely monitored. The outcome will have significant implications for the workers involved, the refinery’s operations, and the broader labor landscape in Nigeria. With the emergency meeting scheduled, PENGASSAN is poised to take concrete steps to address the issue and protect the rights of Nigerian workers.