National Labour Congress Mobilises for Nationwide Industrial Action Against Dangote Conglomerate

The Nigeria Labour Congress has instructed its affiliated unions to commence immediate preparations for a potential nationwide strike against the Dangote Group. The directive accuses the industrial conglomerate of sustained anti-worker practices and a deliberate campaign against labour rights .

This escalation supports the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, which initiated its own industrial action earlier. PENGASSAN’s dispute originated from the alleged unlawful termination of more than 800 Nigerian employees at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, whom the company dismissed after they joined the union .

In an internal memorandum, NLC President Joe Ajaero characterised the conflict as a symptom of a deeper systemic issue within the conglomerate. He described the company’s facilities as places of exploitation and demanded that the Group respect the right of every employee to freely join a union .

The NLC has ordered each of its affiliate unions to establish an Action Mobilisation Committee and to liaise with the national secretariat within a 72-hour period. The objective is to coordinate a unified strategy for a full-scale engagement with the conglomerate .

Meanwhile, the Dangote Group has defended its position, stating that the staff disengagement was a necessary reorganisation to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage and to address serious safety concerns. The company has emphasised that over 3,000 Nigerian nationals remain employed at the facility .