A former lawmaker from Kaduna State, Senator Shehu Sani, has urged Dangote Refinery’s management to promptly reinstate employees who were reportedly fired for joining trade unions, labeling the action as a breach of constitutional rights and a threat to industrial harmony.
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Sani also requested that the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) retract its decision to halt gas supply to the refinery, cautioning that such a move could negatively impact national economic interests.
He stated that “Dangote should bring back the workers who were dismissed for choosing to join their trade unions. PENGASSAN should reconsider its decision to cut off gas supply to the Dangote Refinery.”
His appeal is coming amid escalating tensions between the refinery’s management and organized labor.
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PENGASSAN has claimed that over 800 workers were terminated for union membership, an act they argue violates Nigeria’s labour laws and international agreements.
The union has since initiated a nationwide shutdown of operations, including gas and crude supply to the refinery, and accused the company of replacing Nigerian workers with “over 2,000 Indians,” which has sparked outrage among labor groups and civil society.
In response, Dangote Refinery accused PENGASSAN of engaging in sabotage and acting out of self-interest, citing the union’s previous opposition to reforms and privatization efforts.
The company characterized the strike order as “reckless, lawless, and dangerous,” asserting that it aims to exploit hardship against Nigerians.
They maintained that the dismissals were motivated by safety and efficiency concerns rather than anti-union discrimination, emphasizing that over 3,000 Nigerians are still employed at the facility.
Sani, a human rights advocate and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, stressed that while the refinery is a vital national asset, it must adhere to Nigeria’s labour laws and uphold workers’ rights.
“The nation takes pride in Dangote’s refinery and its remarkable achievements, but the right of workers to unionize is enshrined in our country’s laws,” he remarked.
With PENGASSAN’s strike already in effect and operations at the Dangote Refinery potentially impacted, the federal government has scheduled a meeting for today (Monday) to seek a swift resolution and avert a larger industrial crisis in the oil and gas sector.
