A major labor dispute has erupted at Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery after the country’s petroleum union accused the company of firing its entire Nigerian workforce within 24 hours of employees joining the union.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) claims the mass dismissal was retaliation for workers registering with the union.
PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo confirmed the allegations on Friday, stating he received termination letters late Wednesday night.
“Yes, it is true. We saw the letter late last night. I can assure you that they will recall all of them,” Osifo told reporters.
The controversy gained public attention when political commentator Imran Wakili posted on social media platform X, claiming 90% of the refinery’s Nigerian staff were laid off under the pretense of “reorganisation” immediately after union registration.
According to a September 25th memo signed by Chief General Manager Femi Adekunle, the dismissals were officially attributed to “total re-organisation” following alleged sabotage incidents at multiple refinery units.
The document instructed terminated employees to return company property and complete exit procedures while awaiting benefit processing.
This latest incident intensifies ongoing tensions between Dangote Refinery and Nigerian oil unions over workers’ rights to organize.
Earlier in 2025, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) staged a solidarity strike with PENGASSAN before government intervention led to its suspension.
While Dangote Refinery previously obtained court injunctions blocking union strikes, those orders have expired.
Industry observers now worry about potential fresh labor action that could significantly impact Nigeria’s critical oil and gas operations.
