The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has issued a strong warning to the management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, threatening to picket the multi-billion-dollar facility over the alleged dismissal of 800 Nigerian workers.
PENGASSAN threatens to picket Dangote Refinery over sacked workers, the union accused the refinery of unfair labour practices, claiming that the sackings were directly tied to workers’ decision to join PENGASSAN.
The dispute, which has quickly escalated into a national talking point, raises deep concerns about labour rights, expatriate dominance in Nigeria’s oil sector, and the future of the country’s most strategic private refinery.
PENGASSAN Threatens to Picket Dangote Refinery Amid Labour Tensions
Speaking to journalists on Friday, PENGASSAN’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, alleged that the refinery deliberately targeted Nigerian workers who had voluntarily joined the union earlier in the week.
According to him, more than 800 employees were abruptly dismissed on Thursday, while over 2,000 Indian expatriates were retained in their positions.
“When the witch cries in the night and the baby dies in the morning, what do you expect?” Okugbawa remarked.
He argued that the sackings were a retaliatory move against Nigerian staff for exercising their constitutional right to unionise.
The union maintained that the development was in clear violation of both the Labour Act and the Trade Union Act, which protect the rights of employees to fair treatment and freedom of association.
PENGASSAN further warned that if the refinery management failed to reinstate the sacked workers, it would mobilise its members and supporters for full-scale picketing of the facility, despite a subsisting court injunction barring such action.
Dangote Refinery Defends Sackings, Cites Sabotage
In response to the controversy, the Dangote Refinery issued a statement denying that the sackings were tied to unionisation.
Instead, the company described the move as part of an ongoing “reorganisation” aimed at safeguarding the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage.
The statement explained that a “very small number” of staff were affected, contrary to PENGASSAN’s claims.
The refinery stressed that more than 3,000 Nigerians remain actively employed in the facility, while fresh recruitment through graduate trainee programmes and experienced hire processes continues.
“The decision was taken in the best interest of the refinery as a result of intermittent cases of sabotage in various units, which posed safety concerns and threatened operational stability,” the company said.
Dangote further insisted that it respects globally accepted labour rights and recognises every worker’s freedom to choose whether or not to join a union.
It emphasised that its primary mission remains the delivery of energy independence for Nigeria and Africa, while creating decent and sustainable jobs for its workforce.
Labour Rights and National Interest at Stake
The standoff has placed Nigeria’s labour movement in sharp focus, with PENGASSAN threatening to picket Dangote refinery as a test of its ability to protect Nigerian workers in an industry often dominated by expatriates.
Okugbawa accused the refinery of marginalising Nigerians in favour of foreign workers, some of whom he alleged lacked proper immigration documentation.
He argued that replacing qualified local staff with expatriates undermined national sovereignty and economic justice.
“This is not just about jobs,” he said. “It is about dignity, fairness, and the right of Nigerians to participate fully in the operations of a facility built on their soil.”
The union stressed that the dismissal of Nigerian workers violated the principle of equal treatment, warning that such actions could set a dangerous precedent for other private and foreign-owned companies in the oil and gas sector.
PENGASSAN disclosed that it has convened an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to determine the union’s next line of action.
Options under consideration include picketing Dangote refinery, staging nationwide protests, and pursuing legal action to challenge the sackings.
Labour watchers believe the confrontation could escalate into a broader industrial dispute if not carefully managed.
With the refinery seen as a national asset critical to reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel, the stakes are high for both the company and the Nigerian government.
For now, the affected workers have been urged to remain calm while union leaders continue consultations with stakeholders.
PENGASSAN says it will not hesitate to invoke all constitutional provisions available to defend the rights of its members.
The crisis is the latest in a series of clashes between the Dangote Group and oil sector unions. Earlier in September, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) also staged protests at the refinery over alleged anti-union practices.
Industry analysts argue that the unfolding drama underscores the need for stronger government mediation in labour disputes involving strategic assets such as the Dangote refinery.
With Nigeria’s energy security and millions of jobs at stake, observers say finding a middle ground between management and labour is no longer optional.
For now, PENGASSAN’s threat to picket Dangote refinery remains on the table, with the outcome likely to shape the balance of power between private investors and organised labour in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
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