Tension has erupted between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) following the reported disengagement of about 800 workers at the $20 billion refinery.
A memo signed by the Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management at Dangote Group, Femi Adekunle, confirmed the development, noting that the move was part of a “total reorganisation” to address repeated cases of sabotage across refinery units that posed significant safety risks.
Affected employees were directed to return all company property to their line managers and obtain exit clearance, with benefits and entitlements to be processed thereafter.
In its response, the refinery’s management defended the action, insisting that the restructuring was not arbitrary but necessary to protect the integrity and long-term stability of the strategic national asset. The company stressed that over 3,000 Nigerians remain employed at the facility and recruitment is ongoing through graduate trainee and experienced hire programmes.
“This exercise is not arbitrary. It has become necessary to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that have raised safety concerns and affected operational efficiency,” the company said in a statement.
However, organised labour strongly disagreed. In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN condemned the disengagement as “anti-labour practices” and accused the refinery of replacing Nigerian workers with over 2,000 expatriates, many of whom it alleged lack valid immigration papers.
The union argued that the decision contravened Nigeria’s labour laws, including provisions of the Labour Act and the Trade Union Act, which protect workers’ rights to unionise and to fair treatment.
“We are deeply saddened to report the unjust termination of over 800 Nigerian workers… We will not tolerate this blatant disregard for the rights of Nigerian workers,” PENGASSAN declared, warning that it may be forced to explore constitutional and legal options.
The union also announced plans for an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to decide on its next course of action, while calling on Nigerians to support its resistance against what it described as exploitation of local talent in favour of foreign labour.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) has opened an inquiry into the controversy, signalling that the dispute may take on a wider national dimension in the days ahead.