THE Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has accused the management of Dangote Refinery of anti-labour practices, following the alleged mass sack of over 800 Nigerian workers and their replacement with more than 2,000 foreign nationals, mostly Indians.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday and signed by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa made available to News Point Nigeria, the association described the development as unjust, discriminatory, and in violation of Nigerian labour laws.
“We are deeply saddened to report the unjust termination of over 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 over 2,000 Indian workers, many of whom lack valid immigration documentation,” PENGASSAN alleged.
The oil workers’ union said the move not only jeopardised the livelihoods of Nigerian workers but also raised grave concerns about labour integrity, citing provisions of the Labour Act, Section 7, which prohibits workplace discrimination and ensures the right to fair treatment.
“The dismissal of such a significant number of Nigerian workers without due consultation or transparent justification contravenes the legal rights granted to all employees in Nigeria,” the union said.
PENGASSAN further accused the refinery of ignoring the Trade Union Act, which protects workers’ right to unionise and collectively bargain.
The association noted that the mass sack appeared linked to the recent decision of workers at the refinery to organise under PENGASSAN, describing it as “a targeted attack on unionised Nigerian labour.”
PENGASSAN warned that it would not tolerate the “blatant disregard” for the rights of Nigerian workers and demanded the immediate reinstatement of all those terminated.
“We emphasise that such actions illustrate a troubling trend towards the marginalisation of Nigerian workers in favour of foreign labour, which we cannot and will not tolerate.
“The sacrifice and talents of our workforce deserve respect, and we demand accountability from employers who possess a social responsibility to the communities they operate in,” the statement read.
The union vowed to explore all sections of the Nigerian Constitution and relevant labour laws if Dangote Refinery failed to recall the sacked workers.
PENGASSAN also accused the Dangote Group of adopting exploitative practices across multiple sectors, accusing the conglomerate of prioritising profit over the welfare of local talent and community development.
“The relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of local talent, ethical employment practices, and community welfare is unacceptable.
“Failure to comply with our demand will leave us with no option but to take all necessary legal actions available to us to ensure Nigerian workers are afforded the dignity and respect they deserve,” the union warned.