The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its affiliate unions to mobilise for nationwide industrial action against the Dangote Group over alleged anti-worker practices.
This comes as the strike declared by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) shut down operations at the NNPC Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The dispute began after PENGASSAN alleged that over 800 refinery workers were dismissed for attempting to unionise and replaced with expatriates. Dangote denied the claims, insisting the layoffs were due to restructuring for safety and efficiency, with over 3,000 Nigerians still employed.
On Monday, the National Industrial Court restrained PENGASSAN from halting crude and gas supply to the $20bn refinery, but the union insisted it had not been officially served any injunction and vowed to continue its strike.
NLC President Joe Ajaero accused Dangote of “union-busting” and running the refinery like a “plantation of exploitation,” directing affiliates to set up mobilisation committees within 72 hours.
Government mediators have stepped in as concerns grow that prolonged disruption at the refinery—central to Nigeria’s fuel supply and forex stability—could trigger wider economic shocks.
Meanwhile, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria joined the TUC in condemning the dismissals as a violation of workers’ rights, demanding reinstatement and investigation into the refinery’s labour practices.
