The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has accused the Dangote Petroleum Refinery of sacking workers and intimidating union members after they joined the association.
In a letter to its Lagos Zonal Chairman, the union’s Caretaker Committee (CTC) alleged that staff received a mass termination email around 9:59 p.m. on Thursday, just hours after affirming membership during a verification exercise.
The CTC further claimed management withdrew staff buses, denied workers entry into the refinery, and targeted union leaders for arrest. It described the action as a violation of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association.
Responding, Femi Adekunle, Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management at Dangote Group, said the move followed reports of sabotage in refinery units that posed major safety risks. He said management had no choice but to carry out a “total reorganisation,” leading to the disengagement of staff.
