Dangote Refinery: TUC issues strike warning

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has placed its members on notice for possible strike action, accusing the management of Dangote Refinery of engaging in “anti-worker” practices.

In a statement released on Sunday and signed by its General Secretary, Dr. Nuhu Toro, the union demanded that the refinery immediately reverse the dismissal of workers allegedly targeted for union activities.

“The TUC strongly condemns the recent anti-worker actions of the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, particularly the unjust termination of workers for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of association and unionisation,” the statement read.

It added, “We stand in full solidarity with the affected workers and with their union, our affiliate PENGASSAN, whose members have been victimised merely for declaring membership. Such actions amount to a direct assault on Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution and on Nigeria’s obligations under International Labour Organisation conventions.”

The Congress listed three key demands: the immediate reinstatement of all dismissed employees, a public apology from Dangote management with guarantees against future reprisals, and an independent probe into the company’s labour practices involving the Ministry of Labour, the ILO, and other stakeholders.

“Congress hereby places all affiliates on stand-by for a national industrial action if Dangote management fails to comply with these demands within a reasonable time. No corporation, regardless of size or wealth, will be allowed to trample on the dignity and rights of Nigerian workers. The TUC stands united and ready to act decisively in defence of our members and the Nigerian workforce,” the statement warned.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) had earlier directed its members nationwide to withdraw their services, accusing the refinery of laying off about 800 Nigerian workers and replacing them with over 2,000 expatriates from India.

In a circular issued after an emergency NEC meeting on Saturday, September 27, and signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, the association alleged that the refinery’s actions violated both Nigeria’s labour laws and international conventions. It described the mass sackings as “an affront to all workers in Nigeria.”

The controversy stems from a letter dated September 24, 2025, in which Dangote Refinery ordered the dismissal of some employees over alleged acts of sabotage threatening the operational safety of its 650,000-barrel-per-day plant.

While PENGASSAN put the number of affected staff at around 800, the refinery denied conducting a mass sacking, insisting instead that it was carrying out an internal reorganisation aimed at improving efficiency. Management also maintained that the bulk of its workforce remained Nigerian.

Labour leaders, however, warn that the dispute could disrupt operations at the refinery and have wider implications for fuel supply across the country.