TUC Demands Dangote Reinstate Over 800 Sacked Workers and Apologize to Nigerians
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria has called on the management of the Dangote Petrochemical Refinery to immediately reinstate more than 800 workers recently dismissed over a unionisation dispute and issue a public apology.
TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, made the demand on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he condemned the refinery’s actions as a violation of the workers’ constitutional rights.
“We demand the reversal of the arbitrary dismissal of over 800 workers by Dangote. If that is done, the next thing that we demand is a public apology from the Dangote Refinery Management, with an assurance that such won’t be used against the union in the future,” Toro said.
The dispute stems from allegations by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), an affiliate of the TUC, which accused the refinery of sacking workers for joining the union. The development prompted PENGASSAN to declare a nationwide strike on Monday, halting operations at key oil and gas regulatory institutions.
Toro faulted the refinery’s management for failing to respect workers’ freedom of association, insisting: “Unionisation is a right, and workers in Dangote have the right to belong to a union of their choice. In these circumstances, the workers have indicated that they want to belong to PENGASSAN, and they signed our forms.”
He recalled a meeting held on September 8 at the Ministry of Labour, where TUC and PENGASSAN were represented, accusing the refinery of breaching an earlier agreement not to victimise any worker.
Toro also alleged double standards in the refinery’s treatment of Nigerian staff compared to expatriates, despite enjoying state backing. “Even more disturbing is the monopoly and double standard of Dangote, who enjoys massive state support, protection, and a lot of goodwill from this government.
The same organisation turns around to deny Nigerians of their fundamental rights, while extending preferential treatment to expatriates, the Indians who we all know work within the same organisation. This is nothing but a show of economic oppression in modern-day slavery,” he said.
Describing the mass dismissals as “oppression,” Toro vowed that both TUC and PENGASSAN would resist any attempt to suppress workers’ rights. He urged the refinery to respect labour laws and reinstate the affected workers.
“Dangote should allow the workers to belong to the union of their choice. He should respect the rights of the over 800 workers and reinstate them; the unions are also ready to shift grounds in the interest of Nigerians,” he said, adding that labour would not relent in defending workers against what he called “slave labour” practices.
