The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has demanded that the management of Dangote Petrochemical Refinery reinstate over 800 workers dismissed in the wake of a unionisation dispute and issue a public apology.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, condemned the sackings, describing them as a violation of constitutional rights.
“The Dangote and PENGASSAN rift concerns the TUC because PENGASSAN is an affiliate of the TUC, and there is no way they can beat your child, and the father stays aloof,” he said.
“We demand the reversal of the arbitrary dismissal of over 800 workers by Dangote. If that is done, the next thing that we demand is a public apology from the Dangote Refinery Management, with an assurance that such won’t be used against the union in the future.”
Naijaonpoint reports that Toro’s remarks followed a nationwide strike by PENGASSAN on Monday, which paralysed operations at key oil and gas regulatory institutions.
The union accused Dangote of violating labour laws and International Labour Organisation conventions by sacking workers who joined PENGASSAN.
Dangote management, however, denied mass dismissals and accused the union of sabotage.
Toro dismissed the sabotage allegation, insisting the core issue was the workers’ right to freely join a union.
“Unionisation is a right, and workers in Dangote have the right to belong to a union of their choice. In these circumstances, the workers have indicated that they want to belong to PENGASSAN, and they signed our forms.
“For Dangote to react, he has to hide under the guise of sabotage, which is debatable. By the time you say sabotage, you must be able to substantiate and provide evidence of who are sabotaging,” Toro argued.
He also accused the refinery of reneging on an earlier agreement at the September 8 meeting in the Ministry of Labour, where management pledged that no worker would be victimised.
The TUC scribe further alleged that Nigerian staff were being subjected to unfair treatment compared to Indian expatriates working at the refinery.
“Even more disturbing is the monopoly and double standard of Dangote, who enjoys massive state support and goodwill from this government. The same organisation turns around to deny Nigerians of their fundamental rights, while extending preferential treatment to expatriates, the Indians who we all know work within the same organisation.
“This is nothing but a show of economic oppression in modern-day slavery, and this is not acceptable to the TUC and even PENGASSAN,” he said.
Toro also defended the patriotism of union members, warning against what he described as slave-labour practices.
“Don’t forget that we are also Nigerians, and nobody in Nigeria is more patriotic than the workers who toil to create the wealth that is used to develop this nation,” he stressed.
He noted that labour had supported the refinery in its early challenges and urged Dangote to show respect by reinstating the workers.
“Dangote should allow the workers to belong to the union of their choice. He should respect the rights of the over 800 workers and reinstate them; the unions are also ready to shift grounds in the interest of Nigerians,” Toro maintained.
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