₦airaland Forum

Group Condemns Dangote for Sack of 800 Workers, Commends DSS, Labour Ministry for Efforts to Resolve Dispute

A civil society organisation, Save the Republic, has expressed concern over reports that more than 800 Nigerian engineers and workers were dismissed by the Dangote Refinery after attempts to join a trade union.

In a statement signed by its convener, Deji Adeyanju, Esq., the group said the matter raises serious questions about labour rights, fair employment practices, and Nigeria’s regulatory environment.

According to the group, the Nigerian Constitution and the Trade Unions Act recognise the right of workers to freely associate and join unions, and any attempt to restrict such rights would be inconsistent with the law.

“The right to organise is a constitutional guarantee under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended,” Adeyanju said. “It is important that Nigerian workers are able to exercise this right without fear of dismissal or intimidation.”

Save the Republic also drew attention to the broader implications of the refinery’s reported actions, noting that the Dangote Group has benefitted from various government interventions and licences. Adeyanju stressed that, given the scale of public support received, transparency and fairness in employment practices were essential.

He added that Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection laws discourage practices that could entrench monopoly or undermine the rights of stakeholders, including employees.

The group called on relevant government agencies to look into the matter and provide clarity on the reported mass dismissals, as well as on allegations that some positions previously held by Nigerians were being filled by foreign workers.

“This is not only a matter of labour relations but also of public accountability,” Adeyanju noted. “When a project of this scale has received extraordinary state support, Nigerians have a right to demand fair treatment of workers and full transparency in employment practices.”

The group emphasised that its intervention was not aimed at targeting any individual or company but at upholding the principles of fairness, transparency, and respect for the rights of Nigerian workers.

The group appealed for calm and dialogue in resolving the ongoing dispute. It urged all parties to return to the negotiation table, stressing that the rights of workers must be respected while also ensuring that the refinery continues to thrive.

“The way forward is the dialogue table. Nobody wants to kill the Dangote Refinery. We all want Dangote to work, but we also want the rights of the Nigerian worker to be respected,” he said.

As part of a sustainable resolution, the group further recommended the reinstatement of the affected workers.

“Our position is not against the refinery or its management,” they added. “It is about ensuring fairness and protecting the dignity of Nigerian workers through constructive dialogue.”

The group commended the Department of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Ministry of Labour and Employment for their efforts at resolving the situation.

https://leaders.ng/2025/09/29/group-condemns-dangote-for-sack-of-800-workers-commends-dss-labour-ministry-for-efforts-to-resolve-dispute/

ogugwa1992:
Group Condemns Dangote for Sack of 800 Workers, Commends DSS, Labour Ministry for Efforts to Resolve Dispute




https://leaders.ng/2025/09/29/group-condemns-dangote-for-sack-of-800-workers-commends-dss-labour-ministry-for-efforts-to-resolve-dispute/

Mtchewww
Attention seekers.
Dangote won't answer this cheap group.

The real saboteurs are the labour cabals benefiting from the suffering of the common man. The labour leaders are stinkingly and super rich. They use these rank and file workers to protest and go behind to collect large bribes from government. They often call for warning strike when they are broke. Dangote knows where this is coming from. It is like covenant university lecturers joining ASUU and blaming Oyedepo for sacking them when they go on strike

I don't have anything meaningful to say
Seun hittlleer don too ban me, if I talk better thing.

Dear Dangote

Helllllo labor contracting companies
Third party labor supplied by your trusted family members.

Hire everything up to the chairs.
Let them source thier ppe.

No law says you must have full staff in all departments

I am available if Dangote is looking for urgent replacements of the sacked workers. Somebody should gist me the process especially the juicy positions available.

No be Deji again?

Always looking for where to cash out.

But dangote have denied ever sacking this people ni abi na lie

This is Nigeria for you. How can you sack a whole 800 workers. So there is no law protecting workers in Nigeria. I saw same people defending Dangote. Can they ever support such if they are victims. Trade union and NLC are there to protect workers against exploitation and wicked acts of the management.

ARISHEM:
I am available if Dangote is looking for replacements of the sack workers. Somebody should gist me the process especially the juicy positions .

Sharp guy. Nothing do you jare. Some people will grab the opportunity with both hands.

Kingpele:
But dangote have denied ever sacking this people ni abi na lie

This is nmNgeria were documents can be faked. Dangote won't deny such if it actually did.

AkumTemi:
Mtchewww
Attention seekers.
Dangote won't answer this cheap group.

Let them go & work for Ogbokobo Refineries Nnewi, so that they can join any union of their choice, is it a must they must work for Dangote Industries?

The company should look into this critically and resolve their differences amicably it's unfair to relief people of there jobs just because of transparency and accountability

Lolz group of how many people
No heavy weights there to challenge Dangote

Dangote has the right to hire and fire for any reason. U won't be the one to determine his work force.
Did the workers say thr entitlement to be paid as result of sacking was denied. If they received all thr full package that comes with the employment agreement when layed off .Then they have no case.

buckeyemedia:
Let them go & work for Ogbokobo Refineries Nnewi, so that they can join any union of their choice, is it a must they must work for Dangote Industries?

If I were those workers, I would just dust my resume and apply to shell.
Its not by force to work for dangote.

This is actually what everyone should be saying. How some folks think that Dangote could just be above the law is reallly worrisome.

Some of this folks say because he built a refinery then he should break Labour laws at will and make a mockery of the constitution.

I dont understand what is really happening. Since Tinubu's grab, these folks have been defending policies of wickedness even if it will affect them

Even if PENGASSAN is corrupt, that should not warrant Dangote to break the law. It is a universal law that all workers any where they may be working,have a free right to associate as a union member. If some of them are not interested, good. But those willing to join should not result to being dismissed

Dangote is not above the law

Zico5:
This is Nigeria for you. How can you sack a whole 800 workers. So there is no law protecting workers in Nigeria. I saw same people defending Dangote. Can they ever support such if they are victims. Trade union and NLC are there to protect workers against exploitation and wicked acts of the management.

His private company is not an entitlement, wouldn’t blame u as an employee, people that own companies don’t think like u.

Direct your protest to the federal government for failing to maintain all refineries

Labour unionism in Nigeria has increasingly been perceived as having outlived its relevance in addressing the core socio-economic challenges of workers and the broader citizenry. Rather than championing systemic reforms with long-term impact, such as universal healthcare access, affordable housing policies, credible strategies to tackle insecurity, or the creation of sustainable jobs, labour unions in Nigeria have often narrowed their struggles to demands for periodic wage increments, hazard allowances, and temporary palliatives. While salary adjustments are important, they are frequently eroded almost immediately by galloping inflation, unstable exchange rates, rising fuel and food prices, and a lack of social safety nets. By failing to confront these structural problems, unions leave their members trapped in a cycle where marginal pay increases provide fleeting relief but do not meaningfully improve living standards. Dangote Refinery cant run efficiently with unions like PENGASSAN. More disturbing is the possibility of unions been used by other external forces, this PENGASSAN, NUPENG brouhaha may just be a proxy war for DAPMAN, PETROAN, NMPDRA...………….

as na them open shop for am na, well lets see how it goes

Slytiger:
If I were those workers, I would just dust my resume and apply to shell.
Its not by force to work for dangote.

Shell isn’t hiring, & Shell wouldn’t even pay them close to what Aliko is paying them.

This people wan use their Nigerian mentality spoil the man business, na these same Union people scatter the refineries for Nigeria.

Abi no be their members be the dilapidated refineries’ workers?

ogugwa1992:
Group Condemns Dangote for Sack of 800 Workers, Commends DSS, Labour Ministry for Efforts to Resolve Dispute




https://leaders.ng/2025/09/29/group-condemns-dangote-for-sack-of-800-workers-commends-dss-labour-ministry-for-efforts-to-resolve-dispute/

I hope you will also condemn it if 800 workers decide to resign their appointment after their employer must have spent money to train them abroad

Adeyanju and his fellow gangz should go and open their own refinery and allow ALUTA Association

Professional extortionists have joined the group chat

Zico5:
This is Nigeria for you. How can you sack a whole 800 workers. So there is no law protecting workers in Nigeria. I saw same people defending Dangote. Can they ever support such if they are victims. Trade union and NLC are there to protect workers against exploitation and wicked acts of the management.

U want to determine for a business what his work force should be.Why don't u employ some as ur domestic staff and take up the responsibility. If he decides to close the business or sell it tomorrow. Will u be the one to stop the decision. The multi nationals that have closed shop this yr.Why didn't u go say they must remain open. Didn't they sack the workers.

These ones wan follow trend
Abeg make dem park well

Arabk25:
The company should look into this critically and resolve their differences amicably it's unfair to relief people of there jobs just because of transparency and accountability

It is also unfair for workers to resign and Japa without giving enough notice

Streetinvestor2:
U want to determine for a business what his work force should be.Why don't u employ some as ur domestic staff and take up the responsibility. If he decides to close the business or sell it tomorrow. Will u be the one to stop the decision. The multi nationals that have closed shop this yr.Why didn't u go say they must remain open. Didn't they sack the workers.

No mind that Zico5, em no know say Zico na number 10.

emmanuelewumi:
It is also unfair for workers to resign and Japa without giving enough notice

When they applied & got the job, they should have read the fine print in the agreement properly before they signed, no unionism.

It seems na only the amount of salary they were to receive they their eye.

An employer should have the right to sack an employee in line with the terms of their contract