NLC Joins PENGASSAN Strike: Dangote Refinery Faces Nationwide Shutdown Over Worker Sack
The brewing labour crisis at the $20bn Dangote Refinery has escalated as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed all its affiliate unions to mobilise for a nationwide strike in solidarity with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
The refinery, regarded as Africa’s largest, is at the centre of a bitter dispute after over 800 workers were reportedly dismissed for attempting to unionise. PENGASSAN alleges that the sacked Nigerians were replaced with over 2,000 expatriates, mostly from India. Dangote Industries, however, insists the layoffs were part of a restructuring exercise to improve safety and efficiency, maintaining that more than 3,000 Nigerians remain employed.
On Monday, the strike disrupted operations at critical oil and gas regulators including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Gates were locked at several offices in Abuja, leaving staff stranded as unions enforced 100% compliance.
Meanwhile, the National Industrial Court in Abuja issued an injunction restraining PENGASSAN from halting crude oil supply to the refinery. The union dismissed the order, insisting it was never formally served and vowing to continue the strike.
NLC President Joe Ajaero accused the Dangote Group of “union-busting” and violating both Nigerian labour laws and international conventions. He described the refinery as operating “like a state within a state,” insisting that the time for “fruitless dialogue” was over.
The standoff poses a serious risk to Nigeria’s fragile economy, as the refinery is expected to significantly reduce fuel imports and stabilise the naira. Any prolonged shutdown could have far-reaching consequences on fuel supply, foreign exchange, and government revenue.
In a show of solidarity, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have backed PENGASSAN, condemning the alleged anti-labour practices. They demanded the immediate reinstatement of all dismissed workers and called for an independent probe into the refinery’s labour relations.
With affiliate unions already setting up Action Mobilisation Committees, the coming days may determine whether the dispute spirals into a full-blown nationwide strike, or if government intervention can broker peace between Dangote and organised labour.
