We didn’t sack workers for joining union, Dangote clarifies
…Says plant re-organisation’ll address safety concerns
…Nigerians blasts the workers, say Dangote reserve right to run Refinery his own way
Orisemeke Benjamin
The management of Dangote Refinery has said that it laid off workers as it works to avert further acts of sabotage in different units of the company.
Reports in various news outlets allege that Dangote Refinery sacked its entire Nigerian workforce over their decision to join trade unions.
However, in a statement signed by Chief General Manager, Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle, Friday, the sack of some of its workers is due to management’s effort to re-organise the plant.
The statement read: “In view of the many recent cases of reported sabotage in different units of the Petroleum Refinery leading to major safety concerns, the Management is constrained to carry out 8 total re-organisation of the plant.
“As a consequence of this development, we wish to inform you that your services are no longer required, with effect from the eve of Thursday, the 25th September, 2025.
“Please surrender all the Company’s properties in your possession to your line manager and obtain an exit clearance accordingly but, the date for doing so, will be communicated to you later.
“The Finance Department, by a copy of this letter, is advised to compute all your benefits and entitlements in line with your terms of employment and conditions of service and pay the amount due to you (less all indebtedness), subject to the condition that you have obtained the exit clearance certificate as mentioned above.
“We seize this opportunity to thank you for your services while you were in our employment.”
Nigerians react
Meanwhile, reactions by Nigerians on social media continue to trail reports by various media outlets about the decision of management of the company to lay-off some of its staff.
For Matthew Olaniyan, “The Union cannot decide for Dangote. Dangote refinery is a private company, he has the right to decide to join a union or not to join. Let the union make sure all Nigeria refineries are working perfectly, so that they will have enough members. The union can even build their own mini refineries across the country, so that the prices of petroleum products will come down. God bless Nigeria, my country.”
While Nnamdi Nwaiwu chipped in: “Powerful….If we have our refineries working, do you think you will be running around Dangote. The man has a reason, before they will turn his refinery to PENGASSEN head office.”
On his part, Rotimi Olusola: says “Nobody can dictate to Dangote on how to run his company. It’s a private investment from an investor who establishes his company to make profits by either rendering services or products. No union can work or better still let the union go and establish their own refinery to compete. Simple.”
This is even as Akinfenwa Sunday Ola, said, “Please allow the man to do his business. He is not forcing them to work in his company. Every employment all over the world comes with conditions. The condition in Dangote is that you must not join the Union. Let the sacked workers come out and tell any other inhuman treatment meted out to them.”
For Mkpeti Ayi, “The problem is that while the management was trying to sort issues out, some of the staff started sabotaging the equipment and technical systems in the refinery. These things are very expensive to replace. It’s unfair and brazen. These Unions are anti-people.”
Anslem Ehichioye Obode, explained that “Dangote refinery is located in an export processing zone. Meaning they can decide to employ all foreign workers, they can decide to sell their products to Nigeria or export everything out of the country, they are free from the normal hassles and bottlenecks of day-to-day business operations within Nigeria. Maybe the union wasn’t aware.”
