The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has demanded immediate reinstatement of Nigerian workers sacked by the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals.
The union accused the Dangote Refinery of engaging in anti-labour practices, vowing to pursue legal action against the company if it fails to recall the affected staff.
In a statement released on Friday, September 26, signed by PENGASSAN General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, the union expressed outrage over the termination of employment of over 800 Nigerian workers, arguing that it was done in an unjust manner.
“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. 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,” part of the statement read.
The association alleged that the 650,000bpd private refinery has taken steps to replace the affected staff with over 2,000 Indian workers, adding that the move not only undermined the livelihoods of the citizens, but also raised serious concerns about the integrity of labour practices and compliance with the Labour Act of Nigeria.
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It claimed that the actions of the Dangote Refinery violated the labour laws, citing Section 7 of the Labour Act, which it said prohibits discrimination and ensures the right to fair treatment in the workplace.
“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.
“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,” PENGASSAN said.
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The association said it will not tolerate blatant disregard for the rights of Nigerian workers, especially the right to join unions enshrined in the Trade Union Act.
It emphasised that the recent organisation of the workers as members of PENGASSAN underscored their collective power and right to protection under the law.
It said the refinery’s latest actions “illustrate a troubling trend towards the marginalisation of Nigerian workers in favour of foreign labour, which we cannot, and will not, tolerate.”
The union accused the Dangote Group of having record of exploitative practices across sectors where it operate, stating that it is unacceptable.
However, Dangote Refinery said only small number of Nigerians workers were disengaged. It said the action was necessitated by repeated acts of sabotage that posed a threat to the safety and long-term sustainability of the the facility.
Workers’ Recall
PENGASSAN therefore called on the management of the Dangote Refinery to recall all terminated Nigerian workers, warning that it would commence exploring all sections of the Nigerian Constitution and the relevant labour laws if the company failed to recall the 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. We stand resolute in our commitment to uphold the rights of Nigerian workers and will take all necessary legal actions open to us as an Association to ensure that they are afforded the dignity and respect they deserve,” the statement added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X
