Dangote Refinery Fires Nigerian Workers After Joining Union

By Ekanem Asuquo 

The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has sacked all its Nigerian workers, less than 24 hours after the majority of them joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

The development was revealed on Wednesday by political commentator Imran Wakili, who shared a copy of the company’s memo on X. According to him, about 90 percent of the workers had joined the union before their dismissal.

In a memo dated September 25, 2025, and signed by the Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle, the refinery said the decision was part of a “total re-organisation” following reports of sabotage in different units of the plant.

The notice directed the affected workers to hand over all company property to their line managers and obtain exit clearance, while the finance department was instructed to process their benefits in line with employment terms.

The management, while thanking the disengaged staff for their services, maintained that the reorganization was necessary to reposition the refinery.

Sources say the refinery has been locked in a trade dispute with PENGASSAN over workers’ rights to unionize.