AfriPulse
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria has strongly demanded that the management of the Dangote Petrochemical Refinery reinstate more than 800 workers who were recently dismissed over what has been described as a unionisation dispute. In addition to reinstatement, the union is also insisting that the refinery issue a clear and public apology to the affected workers and to Nigerians at large.
TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, made these demands on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme. Toro stressed that the actions of the refinery violated the constitutional rights of the sacked workers, pointing out that freedom of association and the right to join a union is not just a labour principle but a fundamental right enshrined in Nigeria’s laws.
“We demand the reversal of the arbitrary dismissal of over 800 workers by Dangote. If that is done, the next thing that we demand is a public apology from the Dangote Refinery Management, with an assurance that such won’t be used against the union in the future,” Toro said in a firm statement, making it clear that the matter goes beyond labour and touches on constitutional justice.
Union Rights at the Centre of Dispute
The controversy started after the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), an affiliate of the TUC, accused the Dangote Refinery of unjustly sacking workers who had taken the step to formally join the union. This development escalated quickly, prompting PENGASSAN to declare a nationwide strike on Monday, which led to a major disruption and paralysis of operations at critical oil and gas regulatory institutions across the country.
Toro criticised the refinery’s management for refusing to address what he described as the “substantial matter” at hand—namely, the fundamental rights of Nigerian workers to freely join trade unions without intimidation or retaliation. He emphasised that unionisation is not a favour given by an employer but a right guaranteed by law.
“Unionisation is a right, and workers in Dangote have the right to belong to a union of their choice. In these circumstances, the workers have indicated that they want to belong to PENGASSAN, and they signed our forms,” he explained. Toro also pointed out that during a September 8 meeting at the Ministry of Labour, in which both TUC and PENGASSAN were represented, Dangote’s management had earlier agreed not to victimise any worker who chose to join a union. He therefore accused the company of breaching this understanding and acting in bad faith.
Allegations of Double Standards
The TUC leader further raised concerns about what he termed as clear double standards in the refinery’s labour practices. Toro accused the company of unfairly targeting Nigerian staff while extending preferential treatment to Indian expatriates who work within the same organisation. This, he argued, amounts to discrimination and economic oppression, especially given the enormous state support and goodwill that Dangote Industries continues to enjoy.
“Even more disturbing is the monopoly and double standard of Dangote, who enjoys massive state support, protection, and a lot of goodwill from this government. The same organisation turns around to deny Nigerians of their fundamental rights, while extending preferential treatment to expatriates, the Indians who we all know work within the same organisation. This is nothing but a show of economic oppression in modern-day slavery,” Toro said, condemning the refinery’s management in strong terms.
He described the mass sackings as “oppression” and vowed that both TUC and PENGASSAN would not relent in resisting any attempt to trample on workers’ fundamental rights. He reaffirmed that the struggle was not just about the dismissed workers, but also about setting a precedent that protects future workers from similar victimisation.
Toro therefore urged the refinery’s management to do the right thing by reinstating the dismissed workers and publicly committing to respecting the union rights of all employees. “Dangote should allow the workers to belong to the union of their choice. He should respect the rights of the over 800 workers and reinstate them; the unions are also ready to shift grounds in the interest of Nigerians,” he said, signalling that dialogue and compromise were still possible if management acts responsibly.
He further emphasised that union members are patriotic Nigerians who contribute significantly to the growth of the oil and gas sector and must not be subjected to conditions he described as “slave labour.” He warned that organised labour would not back down in defending the constitutional rights of workers, making it clear that the fight for justice would continue until fairness and accountability are restored at the refinery.
Source: JustNaija | Read the Full Story…
