The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has raised the alarm over what it describes as the mass dismissal and intimidation of workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, allegedly following their decision to unionise.
In a letter addressed to the Zonal Chairman of PENGASSAN Lagos Zone, members of the Caretaker Committee (CTC) of the newly unionised branch detailed what they called a series of retaliatory actions by the refinery’s management. The letter, jointly signed by Mr. Eseoghene Choice (CTC Branch Secretary) and Mr. Abdulfaitai Muhammed (CTC Branch Chairman), was issued Thursday in Abuja.
Allegations of Retaliation and Intimidation
According to the CTC, workers received a mass termination email around 9:59 p.m. on Thursday—just hours after affirming their membership in PENGASSAN during a union verification meeting.
The committee further alleged that management withdrew staff buses, leaving employees to spend up to ₦4,000 on transportation, and denied them access to the refinery premises—while expatriate workers were reportedly allowed in.
“At about 6:30 p.m., staff members who had joined PENGASSAN were denied entry into the refinery and were informed it was on the orders of Alhaji Aliko Dangote,” the committee stated.
In a particularly serious claim, the CTC accused management of directing the arrest and detention of union leaders.
“We intercepted an internal directive ordering
arrest and detention of the CTC chairman by the General Manager of Human Asset Management. This is a direct act of intimidation against union leaders,” the letter alleged.
The union described these actions as a violation of Section 40 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended), which guarantees workers the right to freedom of association.
“These events clearly amount to targeted intimidation and victimisation of workers for exercising their constitutional rights,” it added.
Dangote Refinery Responds: “This Is About Safety, Not Unionisation”
In response, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals issued a formal statement on Friday, rejecting claims of anti-union activity and framing the staff dismissals as part of a broader safety-driven reorganisation.
Femi Adekunle, Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management at Dangote Group, said the refinery had experienced multiple incidents of sabotage across operational units, which posed serious risks to personnel and infrastructure.
“The decision was taken in the best interest of the refinery. It followed intermittent cases of sabotage with dire consequences on human life and related safety concerns,” he said.
Adekunle noted that “only a very small number of staff were affected” by the reorganisation and insisted the company continues to employ over 3,000 Nigerians at the refinery. He also reaffirmed Dangote’s commitment to workers’ rights, including the freedom to join unions.
“We recognise and uphold internationally accepted labour principles, including the right of every worker to freely decide whether or not to join a union,” the company said in the statement.
Dangote Refinery further emphasised that its primary objective is to operate safely, maintain integrity, and contribute to energy security for Nigeria and Africa.
“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery exists to serve Nigerians, to strengthen Africa’s energy independence, and to create decent, sustainable jobs,” the statement added.
Ongoing Dispute
As of now, the conflicting narratives from both the union and the refinery management remain unresolved. While PENGASSAN calls for accountability and respect for labour rights, Dangote Group maintains that its actions are grounded in safety concerns and operational efficiency.
Industry observers and labour stakeholders are watching closely as tensions escalate between one of Africa’s largest industrial employers and Nigeria’s senior oil and gas workers’ union.
