Former Kaduna lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has urged the management of Dangote Refinery to immediately reinstate workers allegedly dismissed for joining trade unions, describing the move as a violation of constitutional rights and a danger to industrial peace.
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Sani also appealed to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to suspend its directive to cut off gas supply to the refinery, cautioning that such an action could harm the nation’s economy.
“Dangote should recall the workers sacked because of their decision to join their trade unions. PENGASSAN should suspend their decision to cut off gas supply to the Dangote Refinery.
“The nation is proud of Dangote’s refinery and its unprecedented level of success, but the right of workers to unionise is embedded in the laws of our country,” Sani wrote.
His reaction comes amid deepening tensions between the refinery and organised labour. PENGASSAN has alleged that over 800 workers were unlawfully dismissed for joining the union, in violation of Nigeria’s labour laws and international conventions.
The union has since declared a nationwide shutdown of operations, including crude oil and gas supplies to the refinery, accusing the company of replacing Nigerian workers with “over 2,000 Indians,” a claim that has provoked outrage among labour groups and civil society organisations.