‘Over 800 Nigerians affected’ — PENGASSAN asks Dangote refinery to recall sacked workers

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) says over 800 Nigerian workers were sacked by the Dangote refinery.

Earlier on Friday, the association said the refinery laid off some of its staff members, noting that the group was working to “resolve” the issue.

Subsequently, the Dangote refinery confirmed sacking some workers, saying that “only a small number were affected” in what it described as a reorganisation exercise.

In a statement on Friday by Lumumba Okugbawa, general secretary of PENGASSAN, the association expressed profound outrage over what it described as “anti-labour practices by Dangote Refinery”.

“We are deeply saddened to report the unjust termination of over 800 Nigerian workers, whose dedication and service have been integral to the operations of this plant,” the statement reads.

“Instead of valuing and retaining this workforce, management has chosen to replace these qualified Nigerians with over 2,000 Indian workers, many of whom lack valid immigration documentation.”

PENGASSAN, therefore, urged the management of the refinery “to recall all terminated Nigerian workers”.

“Failure to comply will leave us with no option but to commence exploring all sections of the Nigerian Constitution and the relevant labour laws,” the group said.

The statement noted that the move not only undermines the livelihoods of citizens but also raises serious concerns about the integrity of labour practices and compliance with the Labour Act of Nigeria.

“Under Section 7 of the Labour Act, which prohibits discrimination and ensures the right to fair treatment in the workplace, the actions of Dangote Refinery are glaringly in violation of our labour laws,” PENGASSAN said.

“The dismissal of such a significant number of Nigerian workers without due consultation or any transparent justification contravenes the legal rights granted to all employees in Nigeria.

“Furthermore, we will not tolerate this blatant disregard for the rights of Nigerian workers, particularly in light of the existing provisions under the Trade Union Act, which enshrines the right of workers to organise and join trade unions.”

According to the statement, the recent inclusion of the affected workers into PENGASSAN highlights their collective strength and legal right to protection.

PENGASSAN alleged that such actions reflect a disturbing shift toward sidelining Nigerian workers in favour of foreign labour — a practice the association declared it cannot and will not tolerate.

“The sacrifice and talents of our workforce deserve respect, and we demand accountability from employers who possess a social responsibility to the communities they operate in,” the association said.

PENGASSAN said it has scheduled an emergency national executive council (NEC) meeting to decide on the next course of action.