The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has placed all its affiliate unions on red alert in solidarity with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which is locked in a deepening faceoff with Dangote Petroleum Refinery over the alleged dismissal of unionised workers.
PENGASSAN maintains that the refinery sacked more than 800 employees for joining the union, describing the move as illegal, unconstitutional, and in breach of labour laws.
In response, the union on Friday, September 26, ordered a nationwide withdrawal of services, cutting crude oil and gas supply to the refinery, halting vessel loading, and directing branches across oil and gas installations to down tools.
Speaking on Monday, September 29, NLC President Joe Ajaero declared that the congress would not tolerate what he called
“a blatant attempt to cripple trade union rights in Nigeria.”
He said all industrial unions were now on standby for a nationwide strike if the refinery fails to reinstate the affected workers.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has also thrown its weight behind the action.
Its Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, stressed that workers’ rights to freely associate must be upheld.
“No employer has the power to criminalise union membership. We are ready to escalate until justice is served,” Toro said in a statement.
Dangote Industries, however, is denying the claim of a mass sacking.
In a statement issued on Sunday, September 28, the company said the ongoing changes were part of a reorganisation to improve efficiency and productivity, insisting that no worker was dismissed on account of union activities.
The federal government has stepped in to contain the crisis. Labour and Employment Minister Nkeiruka Onyejeocha convened an emergency meeting in Abuja on Monday evening with Dangote management and PENGASSAN representatives, urging both sides to suspend hostilities to prevent disruptions to the economy.
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The stakes are high. According to estimates from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the shutdown of crude and gas supply to the refinery could cost Nigeria about ₦14.7 billion daily, worsen fuel scarcity, and disrupt electricity generation since many thermal plants depend on gas supply.
Analysts are warning that the impasse could dent investor confidence in Nigeria’s energy sector.
Economist Dr. Ayo Teriba told Channels Television that while unions must avoid “a fight they cannot sustain,” employers must also respect labour rights to ensure stability.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, commissioned in 2023 and regarded as Africa’s largest single-train facility, is seen as central to Nigeria’s ambition of ending reliance on imported petroleum products.
The ongoing confrontation threatens to derail that vision and deepen economic pressures if not swiftly resolved.