The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has accused Dangote Refinery of sacking all Nigerian workers less than 24 hours after they joined the union.
Confirming the development, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo told Daily Post on Friday: “Yes, it is true. We saw the letter late last night (Wednesday). I can assure you that they will recall all of them.”
Political commentator Imran Wakili had earlier shared the information on X.
“Dangote Refinery has officially laid off all of its Nigerian workers under the guise of ‘reorganization’, less than 24 hours after 90% of them joined PENGASSAN,” he wrote.
He noted that according to a memo dated September 25, 2025, and signed by the Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle, the company said the decision was part of a “total re-organisation” following reported sabotage in several refinery units.
The directive ordered affected workers to surrender all company property to their line managers and obtain exit clearance, while the finance department was instructed to calculate their benefits and entitlements in accordance with employment terms.
The refinery’s management expressed appreciation to the dismissed staff for their contributions during their service.
The move has intensified an already simmering crisis between Dangote Refinery and oil unions over unionisation rights.
NUPENG had recently declared a strike in solidarity, but suspended it after the federal government intervened.
Although Dangote Refinery secured a temporary injunction barring strikes by unions, the order has since expired, raising concerns of fresh unrest in the sector.
