PENGASSAN, TUC accuse Dangote Refinery of union busting, demand recall of sacked workers

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have accused the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery of trampling on the constitutional rights of Nigerian workers by allegedly sacking over 800 employees who voluntarily joined the union.

This was contained in a strongly worded statement signed by the Oyo State Chairman of the TUC, Comrade Bosun Olabiyi, who insisted that Dangote’s investment in the oil and gas sector cannot be used as a cover to undermine the freedom of association and collective bargaining guaranteed under Nigerian law.

The statement reads partly: “Investment into oil and gas business is not peculiar to Dangote. We have above eight FPSOs active in Nigeria and only Egina field cost about 18bn USD. Almost all workers on that field are unionised. We have other oil and gas facilities invested into by both IOCs and LOCs and no one has made this a basis for workers not to exercise their rights. Dangote Refinery stands at about 20 billion USD and that will not be a reason we will not be allowed to breathe again.

“Dangote is not anywhere close in investment to the 36 states of Nigeria and Federal Government who have all allowed workers to exercise their rights to collective bargaining by joining various unions of their choice. So the argument and narrative that Dangote has invested so he can be a law unto himself does not hold water.”

“Almost 820 employees of Dangote have voluntarily chosen to be part of PENGASSAN without any form of coercion. Dangote management went round to confirm this individually from their workers and it was after then they sacked all of them in the guise of reorganisation that doesn’t exist.”

“It is absolute crass sentiment for many to say union should go and build their refineries if they must unionise workers. Those people saying that should point us to refineries or companies owned by unions elsewhere in the world.”

The TUC Chairman invoked specific provisions of the Labour Act and the Nigerian Constitution to back his position.

According to him, Section 5(3) of the Labour Act obliges employers to deduct and remit workers’ union dues once authorised, while Section 12(4) affirms that union membership must be voluntary and free of victimisation. He also cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of association.

Olabiyi further accused Dangote of sidelining Nigerians in key roles within the refinery, alleging that the majority of senior management positions were being filled by Indians.

“As if those jobs cannot be done by Nigerians. Nigerians today hold positions up to MD in many IOCs, but they are not fit for purpose at Dangote Refinery,” he said.

The union leader alleged that many Dangote workers earned less than N150,000 despite working under hazardous conditions, with some allegedly dying without adequate compensation.

He warned that any attempt to trample on workers’ rights would be vehemently resisted.

He stressed: “Anyone who is provoking any action that can lead to crisis in the oil and gas sector of our economy is the real enemy of this Nation. Dangote must recall back all the sacked workers to pave way for meaningful discussion as provided by the law as regards the right of workers to collectively bargain. The Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President must not be sabotaged by anyone and that includes Dangote.”

The unions vowed to mobilise Nigerians across all sectors if the refinery fails to reverse its decision, declaring that “any attempt for any employer to trample upon the Constitutional rights of workers will vehemently be resisted.”