Lagos, Nigeria
Fresh tension has erupted at the multi-billion-dollar Dangote Refinery following the dismissal of some employees barely 24 hours after they joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, said on Thursday that the refinery management issued termination letters dated September 25, 2025, signed by Femi Adekunle, Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management.
The letter cited a “total re-organisation” of the refinery after alleged sabotage in some units as the reason for the disengagement. The affected workers were instructed to return company property, obtain clearance from their line managers, and wait for the computation of their benefits in line with their employment terms.
Osifo condemned the move, describing it as victimisation for lawful union activities. He vowed that the union would resist what he called “an attack on workers’ rights.”
The refinery, however, maintained that the decision was necessary to safeguard operations, while also appreciating the affected staff for their contributions.
The development has further strained relations between Dangote Refinery and labour unions, with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) earlier threatening solidarity strike action before stepping back after government intervention.
Sunday Buna Ibrahim is a seasoned journalist with Daily Frontier (dailyfrontier.com.ng), where he reports on security, conflicts, and humanitarian issues across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, particularly Plateau and Benue States. He also serves as a News Producer at Vision FM Radio in Abuja. Prior to joining Daily Frontier, he worked with Radio Nigeria, Fombina FM Yola in Adamawa State between 2019 and 2020.
