The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has accused the Dangote refinery of replacing dismissed Nigerian workers with Indian nationals. The union issued an ultimatum to the $19 billion refinery, demanding the recall of the terminated employees. According to PENGASSAN, more than 800 Nigerian workers were unjustly sacked, and the union warned it would invoke relevant sections of the Nigerian Constitution and labor laws if the refinery does not comply.
PENGASSAN stressed that it will not tolerate the disregard for Nigerian workers, emphasizing the importance of valuing and retaining the local workforce. The union’s statement described the dismissed workers as dedicated and integral to the refinery’s operations. Instead of retaining them, management allegedly replaced them with over 2,000 Indian workers, many of whom reportedly lack valid immigration documentation.
The union urged the refinery’s management to recall all terminated Nigerian workers, citing the Trade Union Act, which guarantees workers the right to organize and join trade unions. In response, the Dangote refinery confirmed that some Nigerian workers were dismissed on grounds of alleged sabotage, but claimed that only a small number were affected and that recruitment of new staff continues. The refinery’s statement downplayed the severity of the situation, prompting a strong reaction from PENGASSAN.
PENGASSAN has convened an emergency national executive council meeting to take decisive action. This dispute adds to a series of tensions between the Dangote refinery and labor unions, including the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, over worker unionization. The controversy highlights the challenges Nigerian workers face in the petroleum and natural gas sector, particularly regarding job security and labor rights. As the situation unfolds, the union’s ultimatum and the refinery’s response will be closely monitored, with significant implications for the workers, the refinery’s operations, and Nigeria’s broader labor landscape. The upcoming emergency meeting positions PENGASSAN to take concrete steps to protect the rights of Nigerian workers.
