The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has said that over 800 Nigerian workers were sacked by the Dangote refinery.
The association had earlier on Friday, said the refinery laid off some of its staff members, adding that it was working to resolve the issue.
Dangote refinery confirmed sacking some workers, saying that only a small number were affected in what it described as a reorganisation exercise.
PENGASSAN in a statement on Friday by its general secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, the association expressed profound outrage over what it described as anti-labour practices by Dangote Refinery.
The statement reads: “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.”
Okugbawa urged the management of the refinery to recall all terminated Nigerian workers.
He said, “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 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.
PENGASSAN argued that, “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.
“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.”
The statement said further that, the recent inclusion of the affected workers into PENGASSAN highlights their collective strength and legal right to protection.
The association 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 statement said an emergency meeting of the national executive council (NEC) had been scheduled to decide on the next line of action.
