Dangote Refinery Sack of Engineers Sparks Fresh Controversy Over Unionisation
By DAYO ADESULU
Redeployment Plan to Sugar and Cement Units Angers Sacked Workers
Fresh tension has erupted between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals and its sacked engineers, following revelations that some of the dismissed staff may be redeployed to other Dangote Group subsidiaries such as sugar, cement, and salt plants.
The affected workers, who spoke anonymously to The PUNCH, accused the company of victimisation for joining the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Under the Joint Action Committee, comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), the refinery has been under public scrutiny over alleged mass layoffs tied to union activity — a claim the company continues to deny.
Workers: Redeployment is Unfair and Punitive
The engineers said the management’s move to redeploy them to non-refinery operations was a veiled punishment for unionising.
“It is victimisation. How will you redeploy us from the refinery to sugar or cement plants? It is not fair. Most of us were employed by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, not the Dangote Group,” they said.
They argued that their employment letters clearly stated they were hired by the refinery, not the parent conglomerate, and thus should not be transferred across unrelated industries.
The engineers, many of whom are petrochemical professionals, expressed concern that such redeployment would not only sideline their expertise but also affect them psychologically.
Union Alleges 800 Workers Affected
Tensions escalated last week when PENGASSAN shut down oil and gas facilities nationwide, alleging that 800 refinery workers were dismissed for joining the union.
The strike disrupted petroleum production and led to a temporary drop in power generation, costing the country millions in daily output losses.
Following the intervention of the Federal Government, calm was restored, and the Dangote Group was directed to redeploy the affected workers.
However, as of Tuesday, October 8, the sacked engineers said they have not received any formal recall or redeployment letters.
“Currently, we are at home; we are not allowed to go into the refinery. The management said they would get back to us as far as redeployments are done, but we have not heard anything so far,” one of them disclosed.
Indians Running Refinery, Nigerians Locked Out — Workers Claim
In a twist that has sparked further outrage, some of the sacked workers alleged that Indian nationals now operate the refinery exclusively, while Nigerian engineers have been shut out since September 25.
“At the moment, only Indians are running the refinery. All Nigerian engineers were sacked because we joined PENGASSAN,” one worker alleged.
Attempts by the affected engineers to re-enter the facility were reportedly blocked by security personnel, leaving them stranded and unemployed for over two weeks.
Dangote Group: Only a Few Workers Were Sacked
In response, the Dangote Group strongly denied all allegations of victimisation, insisting that only a small number of employees were dismissed for acts of sabotage.
“Over 3,000 Nigerians continue to work actively in our petroleum refinery at present. Only a very small number of staff were affected,” the company said in an official statement.
A senior official of the group told The PUNCH that PENGASSAN members still operate within the refinery, adding that the company’s internal structure allows staff movement across its subsidiaries.
“Those guys were sacked because of sabotage. Nobody is victimising them. Their September salary has been paid. Can we call that victimisation?” the official said.
He added that redeployment across Dangote’s businesses — from cement to sugar and salt — was a normal operational practice, not a punitive action.
The official also dismissed claims that engineers earned less than ₦400,000 monthly, describing it as “outright falsehood.”
Engineers Deny Sabotage Allegation, Cite Poor Pay and Broken Promises
The dismissed engineers rejected the accusation of sabotage, stressing that they were among those who helped build the multi-billion-dollar refinery.
“We cannot sabotage the refinery. Some of us built it from the ground up. We love the refinery and want it to succeed for the good of all Nigerians,” they said.
They also revealed that their decision to join PENGASSAN came only after management encouraged unionisation, contradicting Dangote Group’s claims of subversion.
“We wouldn’t have joined PENGASSAN if we were well paid. Our salary is around ₦400,000, and after deductions, it falls below that. Management told us workers were free to unionise, but now we are being punished for it.”
Presidency Steps In as National Concern Grows
The issue has now drawn the attention of the Presidency, as labour unions and civil society groups demand full reinstatement of all affected Nigerian engineers.
Government mediators are said to be in touch with both PENGASSAN and the Dangote Group to broker a peaceful resolution.
Industry experts warn that prolonged friction could hurt Nigeria’s local refining ambitions and discourage skilled engineers from committing to national projects.
“This is not just a labour issue; it’s about industrial integrity,” one analyst said. “You cannot build local capacity while alienating your own professionals.”
Background: The $20 Billion Refinery at the Center of It All
Commissioned in 2024, the $20 billion Dangote Refinery is Africa’s largest petrochemical facility, designed to process 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
It was envisioned to transform Nigeria from a fuel importer to a net exporter, but internal disputes, production delays, and labour unrest have cast a shadow over its operations in recent months.
For now, both parties remain in a tense stalemate, as workers await clarity on their employment status — and the fate of Nigeria’s most ambitious industrial project hangs in the balance.
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