The management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has officially responded to reports of mass layoffs, describing the action as an ongoing reorganisation exercise.
The company stressed that the move is aimed at safeguarding the facility and ensuring operational efficiency.
In a statement issued by the management on Friday, titled “Dangote Petroleum Refinery Reorganisation: Commitment to Safety, Integrity and Workers’ Rights,” the refinery explained that the decision was necessitated by repeated acts of sabotage in some units of the facility, which posed serious safety risks and disrupted operations.
“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery wishes to clarify recent reports concerning the ongoing reorganisation within its facility. This exercise is not arbitrary. It has become necessary to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that have raised safety concerns and affected operational efficiency,” it said.
“The foregoing decision was taken in the best interest of the Refinery as result of intermittent cases of sabotage in the various units of the Refinery with dire consequences on human life and related safety concerns.”
The refinery stated that it remains vigilant regarding its internal systems and vulnerabilities to ensure the long-term stability of what it described as a strategic national asset.
According to the statement, protecting the refinery is crucial not just for Nigerians but also for Africa’s energy independence and the livelihoods of thousands of people who depend on it.
Management further assured that over 3,000 Nigerians are actively employed at the refinery, with only a “very small number” affected by the restructuring. It added that recruitment is ongoing through graduate trainee programmes and experienced hire processes.
“Over 3,000 Nigerians continue to work actively in our Petroleum Refinery, at present. Only a very small number of staff were affected, as we continue to recruit Nigerian talent through our various graduate trainee programmes and experienced hire recruitment process,” it said.
“We recognise and uphold internationally accepted labour principles, including the right of every worker to freely decide whether or not to join a union. Our commitment to workers’ rights is unwavering.”
Reaffirming its commitment to labour rights, the refinery stated that it recognises and upholds internationally accepted principles, including workers’ freedom to join or not to join unions.
“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery exists to serve Nigerians, to strengthen Africa’s energy independence, and to create decent, sustainable jobs. We will continue to work in partnership with our employees, regulators, and stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of safety, transparency, and accountability,” the statement concluded.
Earlier, Daily Post reported that the refinery had dismissed all Nigerian workers less than 24 hours after 90% of them joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
The union’s president, Festus Osifo, confirmed the development, stating, “Yes, it is true. We saw the letter late last night (Wednesday). I can assure you that they will recall all of them.”