Dangote Refinery Defends Mass Sack, Accuses Workers of Sabotage Amid Union Row

|By Adejumo Adekunle

Dangote Refinery has confirmed it terminated the appointments of several Nigerian workers, insisting the decision was driven by “repeated acts of sabotage” rather than union membership.

The company’s clarification followed reports that it dismissed staff for joining the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). In a statement posted Friday on its official X handle, the refinery said the affected workers posed safety risks and disrupted operations.

“This exercise is not arbitrary. It became necessary to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that raised safety concerns and hampered operational efficiency,” the statement read.

Dangote Refinery stressed that only a “very small number” of staff were affected, while more than 3,000 Nigerians remain employed. It added that it continues to recruit fresh talent through graduate trainee programmes and experienced hires.

The company also reaffirmed its commitment to internationally recognised labour rights, including the freedom of workers to join unions.

Reacting, PENGASSAN president Festus Osifo condemned the move, accusing the refinery of replacing the dismissed Nigerians with Indians and other expatriates. He vowed that the union would ensure the sacked workers were reinstated, disclosing that an emergency National Executive Council meeting had been summoned over the matter.

The standoff pits Africa’s largest refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, against one of Nigeria’s most powerful labour unions, raising questions about labour rights, job security, and the refinery’s handling of its workforce.