Union Threatens Industrial Action Against Dangote Refinery Over Employee Dismissals

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has declared its intention to mobilise protests at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery following the termination of employment for hundreds of workers. The union has also instructed its members to cease all deliveries of crude oil and gas to the facility.

This dispute centres on the refinery’s recent decision to dismiss approximately 800 employees. PENGASSAN asserts that these individuals were let go specifically for their decision to join the labour union. The organisation has strongly criticised the company’s justification that the action was a necessary reorganisation to address security concerns.

A senior official from the refinery has contested the union’s figures, stating that only a small fraction of the workforce was affected. The management maintains that over 3,000 Nigerian employees remain on the payroll and that the right to unionise is respected. The company cited repeated acts of internal sabotage as the primary reason for the staff restructuring.

The union has scheduled an emergency meeting to finalise its plans for picketing the refinery. This development follows a separate announcement by the company regarding the suspension of petroleum sales conducted in the local currency.