Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has appealed to the management of the Dangote Refinery to reinstate employees reportedly dismissed over their decision to join trade unions.
Sani, in a statement posted on his official X account on Monday, said the refinery’s action violates workers’ constitutional rights and could destabilize industrial harmony.
He urged the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to suspend its directive to halt gas supply to the refinery, warning that such a move could undermine the nation’s economic interests.
The dispute comes after PENGASSAN alleged that more than 800 workers were sacked for union membership, prompting the union to order a nationwide suspension of gas and crude supply to the refinery.
In its response, the Dangote Group dismissed the allegations, insisting the action was tied to safety and efficiency concerns rather than union activities. The company stressed that it continues to employ over 3,000 Nigerians at the refinery.
Sani, a rights activist, maintained that while the refinery remains a vital national asset, it must operate within the confines of Nigerian labour laws and uphold workers’ rights to freedom of association
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