AfriPulse
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of
Nigeria (PENGASSAN) says over 800 Nigerian workers were sacked by the Dangote
refinery.
Earlier on Friday, the association said the refinery laid
off some of its staff members, noting that the group was working to “resolve”
the issue.
Subsequently, the Dangote refinery confirmed sacking some
workers, saying that “only a small number were affected” in what it described
as a reorganisation exercise.
In a statement on Friday by Lumumba Okugbawa, general
secretary of PENGASSAN, the association expressed profound outrage over what it
described as “anti-labour practices by Dangote Refinery”.
“We are deeply saddened to report the unjust termination of
over 800 Nigerian workers, whose dedication and service have been integral to the
operations of this plant,” the statement reads.
“Instead of valuing and retaining this workforce, management
has chosen to replace these qualified Nigerians with over 2,000 Indian workers,
many of whom lack valid immigration documentation.”
PENGASSAN, therefore, urged the management of the refinery
“to recall all terminated Nigerian workers”.
“Failure to comply will leave us with no option but to
commence exploring all sections of the Nigerian Constitution and the relevant
labour laws,” the group said.
The statement noted that the move not only undermines the
livelihoods of citizens but also raises serious concerns about the integrity of
labour practices and compliance with the Labour Act of Nigeria.
“Under Section 7 of the Labour Act, which prohibits
discrimination and ensures the right to fair treatment in the workplace, the
actions of Dangote Refinery are glaringly in violation of our labour laws,”
PENGASSAN said.
“The dismissal of such a significant number of Nigerian
workers without due consultation or any transparent justification contravenes
the legal rights granted to all employees in Nigeria.
“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.”
According to the statement, the recent inclusion of the
affected workers into PENGASSAN highlights their collective strength and legal
right to protection.
PENGASSAN alleged that such actions reflect a disturbing
shift toward sidelining Nigerian workers in favour of foreign labour — a
practice the association declared it cannot and will not tolerate.
“The sacrifice and talents of our workforce deserve respect,
and we demand accountability from employers who possess a social responsibility
to the communities they operate in,” the association said.
PENGASSAN said it has scheduled an emergency national
executive council (NEC) meeting to decide on the next course of action.
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Source: NigerianEye | Read the Full Story…
