A Civil Society Organisation, Save the Republic, has raised concern over reports that more than 800 Nigerian engineers and workers were dismissed by the Dangote Refinery after attempting to join a trade union.
In a statement signed by its convener, Comrade Deji Adeyanju, the group said the development raises serious questions about labour rights, fair employment practices, and Nigeria’s regulatory environment.
Adeyanju said the Nigerian constitution and the Trade Unions Act recognise the right of workers to freely associate and join unions, adding that any attempt to restrict such rights would be inconsistent with the law.
He said: “The right to organise is a constitutional guarantee under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“It is important that Nigerian workers are able to exercise this right without fear of dismissal or intimidation.”
Save the Republic noted that the Dangote Group has benefitted from various government interventions and licences.
Adeyanju said transparency and fairness in employment practices were essential, given the scale of public support received.
He also warned that Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection laws discourage practices that could entrench monopoly or undermine the rights of stakeholders, including employees.
The group called on relevant government agencies to probe the reported sackings and address allegations that positions previously held by Nigerians were being filled by foreign workers.
Adeyanju further stated: “This is not only a matter of labour relations but also of public accountability.
“When a project of this scale has received extraordinary state support, Nigerians have a right to demand fair treatment of workers and full transparency in employment practices.”
Adeyanju stressed that the group’s intervention was not targeted at any individual or company but aimed at upholding fairness, transparency, and respect for workers’ rights.
He urged calm and dialogue in resolving the dispute, calling for the reinstatement of the affected workers.
“The way forward is the dialogue table. Nobody wants to kill the Dangote Refinery. We all want Dangote to work, but we also want the rights of the Nigerian worker to be respected,” he said.
The group commended the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Ministry of Labour and Employment for their ongoing efforts to mediate the situation.