The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has again made headlines by dismissing over 1,000 Nigerian employees on September 25, 2025.
This controversial decision came shortly after a majority of the staff voted to join the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
The news has sparked significant reactions on Nigeria X (formerly Twitter), illustrating the tensions surrounding labor rights and employee representation in the region.
The company cited reasons such as reported sabotage and safety concerns for this surprising move, which primarily affected local employees while expatriate staff retained their positions.
The action sparked widespread condemnation from various unions, including PENGASSAN and NUPENG, who accused Dangote of retaliating against workers for their efforts to unionize.
In response to the firings, many voices expressed their concerns online. @anasuacgara highlighted the oppressive atmosphere created by the lack of union representation, arguing that workers deserve a platform to voice their grievances without fear of retaliation.
Read Also:
- Dangote Cement holds Drivers’ Retreat in Obajana, reinforces road safety, discipline
- Court stops NUPENG from disrupting Dangote Refinery operations
- Crude Oil Refinery Owners urge peace as Dangote, DAPPMAN rift threatens Nigeria’s refining breakthrough
“The lack of union representation has led to a climate of fear, characterized by oppression and the suppression of dissent. This approach by the company is fundamentally flawed. Workers have the right to have a voice, and victimizing them for exercising this right is a violation of their constitutional rights.”
@Adeniyi132 questioned the reasoning behind the refinery’s decision, noting the poor planning involved in dismissing a large workforce in an industry that relies heavily on employee participation.
“I just hope this won’t lead to self-sabotage. How can such a significant investment, which requires thousands of employees, have no plans for union representation? What are the motives behind such a poor blueprint? PENGASSAN members are not troublemakers; they are professionals. How can you separate them from their union?”
@Soeackforthem acknowledged Dangote’s attempts to address long-standing issues in the industry but criticized the refusal to allow staff to join a union of their choosing, viewing it as a violation of workers’ rights.
He said “While I support Dangote’s efforts to challenge the cartel that has held the nation hostage for years, it is wrong to prevent the staff from joining a union of their choice. Employers who do this infringe upon the rights of their employees.”
Meanwhile, some skepticism emerged regarding the unions themselves, with @EmmaIkoro claiming that they often prioritize their own interests over the welfare of their members, suggesting a complex dynamic in the labor landscape of Nigeria..
He commented, “Unions in Nigeria are worse than the government. None of the union groups in Nigeria care about their members; they only use them to achieve their own selfish goals. Those at the top of the unions often make deals with the government, which even influences their leadership.”
