Fresh controversy has erupted in the Nigerian oil and gas industry as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has accused the management of Dangote Refinery of abruptly terminating the employment of all its Nigerian staff just a few hours after they officially became members of the union.
The shocking dismissal, which has generated widespread reactions across the country, reportedly took place less than 24 hours after more than 90% of the refinery’s Nigerian workforce joined PENGASSAN in what was considered a historic step towards unionising Africa’s largest refinery. According to multiple sources, the decision was communicated to the workers through an internal memo circulated late Wednesday night.
Confirming the development, PENGASSAN’s national president, Festus Osifo, told Daily Post on Friday that the allegations were true. He said: “Yes, it is true. We saw the letter late last night (Wednesday). I can assure you that they will recall all of them.” Osifo also warned that the union would not tolerate intimidation or any attempt to undermine workers’ constitutional rights to freely associate.
Political commentator Imran Wakili had earlier taken to X (formerly Twitter) to raise the alarm, stating: “Dangote Refinery has officially laid off all of its Nigerian workers under the guise of ‘reorganization’, less than 24 hours after 90% of them joined PENGASSAN.” His post quickly went viral, sparking heated discussions among labour activists, industry stakeholders, and the general public.
According to an internal memo dated September 25, 2025, and signed by the refinery’s Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle, the mass dismissal was justified as part of a “total re-organisation” of the refinery’s workforce. The memo further alleged that certain acts of sabotage had been recorded in some critical refinery units, necessitating drastic action to restore order and efficiency.
The directive instructed all affected employees to immediately hand over all company property to their respective line managers and obtain formal exit clearance. At the same time, the finance department was mandated to process the benefits and entitlements of the dismissed workers. The refinery’s management, in the memo, thanked the affected staff for their service, a gesture many have described as insensitive given the circumstances of their dismissal.
This latest development has reignited long-standing tensions between Dangote Refinery and Nigeria’s oil unions over the right of employees to unionise. The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) had earlier staged a strike action in solidarity with PENGASSAN, but the protest was suspended following the intervention of the federal government. Labour leaders now warn that this mass sack could trigger fresh waves of industrial unrest if not swiftly addressed.
It would be recalled that Dangote Refinery had earlier secured a temporary court injunction barring unions from embarking on strike actions against its operations. However, that injunction has since expired, raising fears that the oil and gas sector may once again be thrown into chaos if the refinery and the unions fail to resolve their differences. Analysts warn that the dispute could disrupt operations at a time when Nigeria is banking heavily on the refinery to stabilise its petroleum supply and reduce dependence on fuel imports.
As the controversy deepens, calls are growing louder for the federal government to step in and mediate between the refinery’s management and the oil unions in order to protect the rights of workers while safeguarding Nigeria’s fragile energy sector.