PENGASSAN Slams Dangote Over Mass Sack of Nigerian Workers, Demands Reinstatement

RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
27 September 2025

The Dangote Refinery, once hailed as a beacon of industrial hope for Nigeria, has become the epicentre of a stormy labour dispute after the termination of more than 800 Nigerian workers. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has accused the refinery of not only violating labour rights but also replacing homegrown talent with foreign staff on significantly higher wages.

In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN condemned the dismissals as “unjust, discriminatory, and an affront to Nigerian sovereignty.” The union alleged that while hundreds of Nigerians were shown the door without fair process, over 2,000 Indian nationals have been drafted in to take over key roles. Disturbingly, many of these expatriates, according to PENGASSAN, may lack proper immigration documentation.

Even more galling to the workers, the union revealed, is the disparity in pay. “Qualified Nigerian engineers and technicians were earning barely a fraction of what their foreign counterparts took home for performing identical tasks,” Okugbawa stated. Nigerian engineers and technicians reportedly earned between ₦383,000 monthly, while their foreign counterparts, performing identical tasks, were paid as much as $2,000 dollars per month. “This brazen inequity not only insults the dignity of Nigerian labour but also flagrantly violates the Labour Act.”

Under Section 7 of the Labour Act, employees are entitled to fair treatment and protection against discrimination, rights PENGASSAN says have been grossly undermined. The union further argued that the sackings coincided suspiciously with the refinery workers’ decision to organise under PENGASSAN—an action protected by the Trade Union Act.

“This calculated attack on workers’ rights is a move to silence collective bargaining and strip Nigerians of their rightful place in their own economy,” the union declared.

Dangote Refinery’s management has defended its decision as a measure to “boost efficiency and safeguard operations against sabotage,” but critics argue that such justifications cannot cover up what they see as systemic exploitation. For many observers, the optics of replacing over 800 Nigerians with foreigners—reportedly earning higher wages—amounts to economic betrayal.

PENGASSAN has issued a stern ultimatum: reinstate all terminated Nigerian workers or face a barrage of legal and industrial actions. “We will explore every provision of the Nigerian Constitution and labour laws to ensure our members are not treated as disposable tools in their own country,” Okugbawa said.

As the refinery grapples with mounting criticism, the broader question emerges: can Africa’s flagship industrial venture balance its pursuit of global competitiveness with its duty to respect and empower the local workforce? For now, the refinery’s future is overshadowed by a bitter battle over jobs, justice, and fairness.

Stay updated with the latest news across Nigeria and beyond — visit RYNI News

For Event Coverage, Advert Placements, Article Publications.
Email: rynimedia@gmail.com
Contact Us on WhatsApp