The association alleged that over 2,000 Indian nationals were recruited by the company to take over the jobs of those sacked by Dangote.

However, the Dangote refinery said only a few of its workers were fired over repeated cases of sabotage.

In a statement made available to journalists, the management of the company said this was an ongoing reorganisation, which became necessary to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage.

Recall that a letter surfaced on social media indicating the sacking of “all staff” over sabotage.

The letter, titled ‘Reorganisation’ and addressed to all staff of the refinery, partly read, “In view of the many recent cases of reported sabotage in different units of the petroleum refinery leading to major safety concerns, the management is constrained to carry out a total reorganisation of the plant.

However, leaders of PENGASSAN said the workers were sacked for joining the union.

The General Secretary of the group, Lumumba Okugbawa, alleged that 800 workers were sacked for becoming members of PENGASSAN.

“When the witch cries in the night and the baby dies in the morning, what do you expect?

“So, over 800 agreed to join the union. The management went to do headcounts, and they found out that these guys voluntarily joined; the next thing we saw was the (sack) letter, firing all Nigerian staff.

“They said they wanted to reorganise. Is it only the expatriates that will do the reorganisation? All the over 2,000 expatriates from India were asked to continue with their jobs,” he stated in an interview with journalists.

Asked what action PENGASSAN would take, especially when Dangote already had a court injunction stopping any blockade, he replied that the union could picket the refinery or embark on a protest.

“We are only waiting for the National Executive Council,” he added.

Okugbawa stated that the association had told the affected workers to remain calm.

“We have engaged with the affected workers. We told them to remain steadfast; we are on top of the matter. We want to engage the other various stakeholders that are complaining as usual. We try to make people see reason, but if they don’t, we’ll use all the constitutionally given powers to do what we’ve got to do to make them see reason. In this Nigeria, you’re firing Nigerians and keeping expatriates to work – expatriates that are doing little or nothing compared to what Nigerians can do. Is that reorganisation? Let’s use our tongues to count our teeth,” he said.

Earlier in a statement, the scribe noted with sadness the termination of the workers’ jobs.

He claimed that the refinery chose to replace qualified Nigerians with over 2,000 Indians, many of whom lacked valid immigration documentation.

“Furthermore, we will not tolerate this blatant disregard for the rights of Nigerian workers, particularly in light of the existing provisions under the Trade Union Act, which enshrines the right of workers to organise and join trade unions. The recent organisation of these workers as members of PENGASSAN underscores their collective power and right to protection under the law,” he added.

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He emphasised that such actions illustrated a troubling trend towards the marginalisation of Nigerian workers in favour of foreign labour, demanding accountability from employers.

PENGASSAN urged the management of the Dangote refinery to recall all terminated Nigerian workers.

Reacting, the refinery clarified that the workers who were sacked engaged in acts that affected the plant.

“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery wishes to clarify recent reports concerning the ongoing reorganisation within its facility. This exercise is not arbitrary. It has become necessary to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that have raised safety concerns and affected operational efficiency.

Source: Punch