The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged Dangote refinery to reverse the dismissal of over 800 Nigerian employees, calling the action unconstitutional and demanding a public apology.
The dispute escalates tensions between the refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which declared a nationwide strike on September 27 over the sackings.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, TUC secretary-general Nuhu Toro argued the refinery infringed on workers’ constitutional rights.
“The Dangote and PENGASSAN rift concerns the TUC because PENGASSAN is an affiliate of the TUC, and there is no way they can beat your child, and the father stays aloof,” he said.
Toro added that the union was present at a September 8 meeting at the Ministry of Labour alongside PENGASSAN and refinery representatives.
“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.”
On September 26, PENGASSAN said more than 800 workers were laid off but pledged to resolve the matter.
Dangote refinery confirmed some terminations but stressed that “only a small number were affected,” describing the decision as part of a reorganisation exercise.
The refinery further accused PENGASSAN of “weaponising hardship against Nigerians” by calling a nationwide strike.