The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has accused Dangote Refinery of unjustly terminating the appointment of 800 Nigerians in its workforce.
The labour union, in a statement on Friday by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, accused the refinery of engaging in anti-labour practices.
It also alleged that the management of the refinery has chosen to replace the sacked Nigerians with over 2,000 Indian workers.
The allegation comes in direct reaction to what Dangote Refinery described as a restructuring of its workforce to weed out saboteurs.
The refinery, in a statement released through its X account on Friday, said the workers affected were found to be involved in repeated acts of sabotage that have raised safety concerns and affected operational efficiency.
The company also stated that over 3,000 Nigerians are still working actively in the company, despite the recent restructuring.
However, PENGASSAN said it is saddened by the development. It alleged that many of the Indians used to replace the Nigerian workers don’t have complete immigration documents.
“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,” the association stated.
It maintained that the dismissed workers were denied a right to fair treatment by Dangote Refinery, adding that the termination not only undermined the livelihoods of the citizens but also raised serious concerns about the integrity of labour practices and compliance with the Labour Act of Nigeria.
“Under Section 7 of the Labour Act, which prohibits discrimination and ensures the right to fair treatment in the workplace, the actions of Dangote Refinery are glaringly in violation of our labour laws.
“The dismissal of such a significant number of Nigerian workers without due consultation or any transparent justification contravenes the legal rights granted to all employees in Nigeria,” it said.
PENGASSAN, however, insisted that the workers have a right to unionize under the Trade Union Act, which enshrines the right of workers to organise and join trade unions.
It explained that the recent organisation of the workers as members of PENGASSAN underscored their collective power and right to protection under the law.
PENGASSAN further called on the management of the Dangote Refinery to recall all terminated Nigerian workers, warning that it would explore all legal means to confront the refinery if the company failed to recall the workers.
“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.
“Furthermore, we would be remiss to overlook the broader implications of Dangote Group’s capitalistic pursuits beyond the confines of the refinery sector. Instances of exploitative practices have been reported in various sectors where the company maintains significant business interests.
“The relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of local talent, ethical employment practices, and community welfare is unacceptable. PENGASSAN, therefore, urges the management of the Dangote Refinery to recall all terminated Nigerian workers.
“Failure to comply will leave us with no option but to commence exploring all sections of the Nigerian Constitution and the relevant labour laws. We stand resolute in our commitment to uphold the rights of Nigerian workers and will take all necessary legal actions open to us as an Association to ensure that they are afforded the dignity and respect they deserve,” the statement added.
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