TUC Demands Public Apology, Reinstatement of Sacked Workers from Dangote Refinery

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has issued a strong demand to the management of Dangote Refinery, calling for the immediate reinstatement of more than 800 dismissed workers and a public apology for what it described as gross violations of labour rights. In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, the union alleged that the refinery’s management engaged in unfair labour practices by arbitrarily laying off Nigerian employees and replacing some of them with foreign nationals under the guise of a restructuring exercise. The TUC described the action as “an assault on the dignity of Nigerian workers” and a breach of both national labour laws and international conventions on workers’ rights. The crisis, which has escalated in recent days, began after the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), an affiliate of TUC, raised alarm over the dismissal of hundreds of staff. In retaliation, PENGASSAN directed its members to suspend the supply of crude oil and gas to the $20 billion refinery, threatening to paralyse operations at the facility which only recently began refining products. TUC outlined three specific demands: first, the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of all affected workers; second, a public apology from Dangote management with clear assurances that no further victimisation will occur; and third, an independent probe into the company’s labour practices, to be carried out by the Federal Ministry of Labour in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and other relevant stakeholders. The labour body also warned that it has placed its affiliates on standby for a nationwide strike if the demands are ignored. “Nigerian workers cannot be treated as disposable in their own country, particularly in a refinery that is expected to play a central role in the nation’s economic growth,” the statement read. The dispute has drawn the attention of the federal government, which has reportedly begun mediating to prevent disruptions that could destabilise the nation’s fuel supply. Economic analysts caution that a prolonged standoff could result in higher fuel prices, undermine Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, and damage investor confidence in the country’s business environment. Dangote Group has defended its decision, stating that the dismissals were part of a wider reorganisation to improve operational safety and efficiency. Company representatives maintain that the refinery, which employs thousands of workers, must be run in line with international best practices. However, labour leaders have rejected these justifications, insisting that the exercise was a thinly veiled attempt to silence union activities within the refinery. The standoff has quickly become a test case for Nigeria’s ability to protect workers’ rights while maintaining a favourable investment climate. With labour leaders standing firm and government mediators attempting to broker peace, all eyes remain on the Dangote Refinery to see whether management will bow to union demands or risk an industrial action that could have nationwide consequences.