Nigeria: Dangote Refinery Sacks 800 Workers Over Alleged Sabotage

Africa’s largest oil refinery, Dangote Refinery, has dismissed more than 800 workers over alleged sabotage, sparking protests by the country’s powerful petroleum workers’ union.

Local media reports suggest that the terminated workers have been replaced with foreign nationals, allegedly brought in from India.

In recent times, petroleum workers have clashed with Dangote Refinery after the company reportedly barred its truck drivers from joining a labour union.

“We are deeply saddened to report the unjust termination of more than 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 foreign workers, in clear breach of the Labour Act and the Trade Union Act,” said Lumumba Okugbawa, General Secretary of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), as quoted by local media.

PENGASSAN had earlier alleged that workers who joined the union at the refinery were denied entry, forced to pay for transport after staff buses were withdrawn, and later received a mass termination notice.

The union condemned the action, describing it as anti-labour and a violation of Nigeria’s laws. It warned that failure to recall the workers would force it to pursue all legal remedies available under the Constitution and relevant labour legislation.

“PENGASSAN, therefore, urges the management of Dangote Refinery to recall all terminated Nigerian workers. Failure to comply will leave us with no option but to take every legal action available to us as an association,” the union stated.

The association added that an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting had been scheduled to decide the next line of action, while calling on Nigerians to rally behind the workers.

However, a senior official of Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals dismissed claims of mass sackings, insisting the development was a reorganisation exercise aimed at curbing sabotage within the plant.

“Yes, the letter is correct. But the interpretation is wrong. The interpretation is that it affects some people because of certain things discovered in the refinery. It has nothing to do with unionism or anything like that,” the unnamed official told Punch Newspaper.

Source: https:// energynewsafrica.com