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By Myke Agunwa
The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has convened an emergency meeting following the sudden dismissal of several workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Africa’s largest single-train refinery located in Lekki, Lagos.
News of the layoffs broke earlier in the week when internal memos from the Dangote Group confirmed the termination of contracts for an undisclosed number of Nigerian employees.
Industry insiders revealed that the affected staff include engineers, technicians, and contract workers involved in operations and logistics at the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery. The company, however, maintained that the move was part of a strategic restructuring aimed at streamlining operations and reducing redundancy.
The development has sparked nationwide debate over labour rights, job security, and the broader economic implications of industrial relations in Nigeria’s energy sector.. Analysts warn that labour disputes at the facility could have ripple effects across the country’s fuel supply chain, especially at a time when Nigeria is battling inflation and unstable exchange rates.
NUPENG, in a statement signed by its General Secretary Comrade Afolabi Olawale Olufemi, lamented the mass sackings, describing them as unjust, anti-labour, and contrary to international best practices. The union accused Dangote of “high-handedness” and of deliberately frustrating workers’ rights to organise under recognised labour platforms. It alleged that the company had discouraged unionisation among drivers and technicians engaged in its operations, particularly those recruited to man compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks deployed for product distribution.
“The sudden dismissal of these workers is unacceptable. It undermines the sacrifices Nigerian workers have made to keep the refinery operational. We cannot sit back while such corporate insensitivity erodes workers’ dignity and livelihoods,” the statement read.
The emergency meeting, scheduled for Lagos, brought together NUPENG’s executive council members, branch leaders, and representatives of allied unions, including the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). Sources disclosed that the agenda centred on crafting a coordinated response, which could include issuing ultimatums to Dangote Industries, staging protests, or declaring industrial action if the sacked workers are not reinstated.
In its defense, Dangote Industries insisted that the refinery remained committed to fair labour practices. A spokesperson for the conglomerate explained that the layoffs were limited to non-performing staff and redundant roles, adding that the company would continue to prioritise competence and efficiency in its workforce. “This is not a witch-hunt. It is a necessary exercise to align with global operational standards,” the spokesperson said.
Pointblanknews.com learnt that the Federal Government has stepped into the dispute in a bid to avert escalation. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, reportedly invited Dangote executives and NUPENG officials to Abuja for conciliatory talks.
However, negotiations earlier in the week ended in a deadlock, with both sides failing to reach common ground on reinstatement and unionisation rights.