Former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has called on the management of the Dangote Refinery to reinstate workers allegedly dismissed for joining trade unions, describing the action as a violation of constitutional rights and a threat to industrial peace.
In a statement on Monday shared via his official X handle, Sani stressed that while the refinery is a strategic national asset, it must operate within the framework of Nigeria’s labour laws and respect workers’ rights.
“Dangote should recall the workers sacked because of their decision to join their trade unions. PENGASSAN should suspend their decision to cut off gas supply to the Dangote Refinery,” he said.
The former Senator and human rights activist added, “The nation is proud of Dangote’s refinery and its unprecedented level of success, but the right of workers to unionise is embedded in the laws of our country.”
Sani’s intervention comes amid escalating tensions between the refinery’s management and organised labour. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) alleged that over 800 workers were dismissed for union membership, an act it insists contravenes Nigeria’s labour laws and international conventions.
In response, the union ordered a nationwide shutdown of operations, including gas and crude oil supply to the refinery. PENGASSAN further accused the company of replacing Nigerian workers with “over 2,000 Indians,” a claim that has sparked outrage among labour circles and civil society groups.
Dangote Refinery, however, pushed back, accusing the union of sabotage and selfish interests. The company argued that the strike directive was “reckless, lawless and dangerous,” designed to weaponise hardship against Nigerians. It maintained that the dismissals were based on safety and efficiency concerns, not anti-union victimisation, and noted that more than 3,000 Nigerians remain employed at the facility.
LEADERSHIP reports ENGASSAN’s strike already underway, concerns are mounting about potential disruptions to refinery operations. The federal government has summoned both parties to a meeting today (Monday) in an effort to prevent a wider industrial crisis in the country’s oil and gas sector.
