Nigeria’s $20bn Dangote Refinery is at the centre of a growing labour storm after reports that Nigerian workers were summarily dismissed less than 24 hours after joining the oil workers’ union PENGASSAN.
Union officials claim hundreds of staff received dismissal notices, citing a leaked internal memo dated September 25. The memo, reportedly signed by Dangote’s HR unit, ordered affected employees to return company property and obtain exit clearance.
The management of Dangote Refinery has not issued an official statement, fuelling confusion over whether the sackings are lawful or even confirmed.
Context: Unionisation and Corporate Contradictions
Dangote Industries has long promoted itself as a champion of local employment. The refinery, billed as Africa’s largest, was expected to generate thousands of jobs. Labour leaders say the alleged dismissals, timed immediately after union membership, expose contradictions between corporate branding and worker rights.
PENGASSAN and NUPENG condemned the move. “This is union-busting, plain and simple,” a senior PENGASSAN official told IDNN. “We expect all dismissed workers to be recalled immediately.”
Meanwhile, confusion persists after some reports described the memo as “leaked” and possibly unauthorised.
Impact: Energy Sector Tensions
If confirmed, the sackings could ignite a wider showdown between Nigeria’s unions and its most powerful private oil operator. Analysts warn this may affect refinery operations, fuel supply stability, and investor confidence.
Labour lawyers say the case could test Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of association, potentially spilling into industrial courts.
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