The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has threatened legal action against the Dangote Group for dismissing over 800 Nigerian employees.
The association criticized the company for hiring new workers who allegedly do not possess valid work permits, claiming this violates the nation’s rule of law.
PENGASSAN has however, demanded that the company rescind its termination notice, which replaced qualified Nigerian workers with foreign nationals.
This information was conveyed in a statement by Mr. Lumumba Okugbawa, the General Secretary of PENGASSAN, and was released on Friday in Abuja.
Previously, PENGASSAN accused the company of barring union members from entering the refinery, forcing them to pay for transportation after company buses were withdrawn, and subsequently issuing mass termination notices.
The union condemned these actions as anti-labor and in violation of Nigeria’s labor laws.
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They reported that the refinery has employed over 2,000 Indian workers, many of whom reportedly lack proper immigration documentation, to fill the positions of the dismissed Nigerian employees.
“We are deeply saddened to report the unjust termination of more than 800 Nigerian workers, whose dedication and service have been integral to the operations of this plant.
Instead of valuing and retaining this workforce, management has chosen to replace these qualified Nigerians with foreign workers, in clear breach of the Labour Act and the Trade Union Act,” the statement read.
PENGASSAN emphasized that such actions will not be tolerated and insisted that Nigerian workers deserve dignity and respect.
They warned that if the workers are not reinstated, the union will pursue all legal avenues available under the Constitution and relevant labor laws.
“PENGASSAN urges the management of Dangote Refinery to recall all terminated Nigerian workers. Failure to comply will leave us with no option but to take every legal action available to us as an association,” they added.
The union also announced that an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting has been scheduled to determine the next steps, urging Nigerians to support their cause.
“This exploitation of our brothers and sisters must not be tolerated. An injury to one is an injury to all,” they stated.
