A labor dispute is unfolding in Nigeria’s oil sector after the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) threatened to shut down the Dangote Refinery. The refinery, which can process 650,000 barrels of oil per day, recently dismissed more than 800 Nigerian employees shortly after they joined the union. This action has raised concerns that fuel prices could rise if the issue is not resolved.
PENGASSAN’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, warned that the union will explore all available options if refinery management does not recall the dismissed workers. In a statement, the Dangote Group confirmed the dismissals, saying they were necessary to protect the refinery from “repeated acts of sabotage.” The company did not disclose the exact number of staff affected or the specifics of the alleged sabotage.
The sacked workers allege victimisation, claiming they were targeted for voluntarily joining a union, a right guaranteed by Nigeria’s Constitution. PENGASSAN further accused the refinery of replacing the dismissed Nigerian workers with roughly 2,000 Indian employees. In response, the union convened an emergency National Executive Council meeting to decide how best to reverse the refinery’s decision.
A potential shutdown of the Dangote Refinery could have significant implications for Nigeria’s oil sector and the broader economy. As the dispute develops, it remains uncertain how it will be resolved and what impact it may have on fuel prices. PENGASSAN’s actions aim to protect the rights of Nigerian workers and ensure that the country’s labor laws are upheld, potentially involving negotiations with refinery management or industrial action.
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