KEY POINTS
- NUPENG and PENGASSAN accused Dangote Refinery of sacking all Nigerian staff over union membership.
- Union leaders described the move as retaliation against collective bargaining and a show of “true colors.”
- The dispute casts a shadow over Africa’s largest refinery, raising risks of wider labor unrest.
Nigeria’s largest refinery project, owned by billionaire Aliko Dangote, is facing mounting criticism from labor unions after reports surfaced that all Nigerian staff at the facility were abruptly dismissed.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) condemned the move, calling it characteristic of Dangote’s management style. A senior executive of the union, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the action exposes the “true colors” of Africa’s richest man and raises questions about his commitment to Nigerian labor.
The controversy erupted just hours after Festus Osifo, president of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), confirmed that refinery staff were sacked following their decision to join the union.
Unions Warn Dangote of Escalation
“This is the stuff Dangote is made of,” the NUPENG executive told Daily Post. “He has shown his true colors to all Nigerians.”
Both NUPENG and PENGASSAN have historically played central roles in labor disputes across Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. Their intervention often signals the potential for wider unrest, particularly in a country where industrial action has previously disrupted fuel supply and paralyzed the economy.
Union officials say the refinery’s mass dismissal was retaliatory, designed to discourage unionization and weaken collective bargaining power at a time when workers are seeking greater protection amid rising living costs.
The incident also comes at a delicate moment for Dangote Refinery, which only recently began operations and is seen by the government as a cornerstone of efforts to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
While Dangote Industries Limited has not publicly commented on the matter, the backlash threatens to overshadow what was supposed to be a flagship project for industrial growth and energy independence. Labor experts warn that if the dispute escalates, it could undermine investor confidence in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector.
The refinery, located on the outskirts of Lagos, is Africa’s largest and has been touted as a solution to chronic fuel shortages. But its handling of workforce relations is now drawing as much attention as its commercial promise.
For unions, the message is clear: without respect for labor rights, the refinery risks eroding its credibility at home even as it seeks to position itself as a global player.
