The recent dismissal of several employees at the Dangote Refinery has been traced back to a WhatsApp group initiated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Insiders revealed that the conflict started when PENGASSAN representatives contacted refinery staff, encouraging them to join the union with assurances of protection and support.
Subsequently, a WhatsApp group was established where union officials distributed membership forms and requested daily updates on refinery activities from the workers.
However, this group reportedly became a channel for exchanging confidential operational details, which refinery management perceived as a breach of trust and a potential risk to the facility’s security and efficiency.
While the refinery’s leadership insists that the terminations were part of a broader organizational restructuring, sources disclosed that the actual cause was the unauthorized sharing of sensitive information with external parties.
“The issue stemmed from a WhatsApp group. PENGASSAN reached out to employees, urging them to join the union with promises of protection. They then created a group where forms were shared, and workers were asked to report daily on refinery operations,” a source explained.
“These daily reports led to leaks. The information circulated within the group amounted to sabotage, prompting swift action from Dangote management,” the source added.
Details of the Termination
Dangote Petroleum Refinery recently terminated the contracts of certain employees, citing repeated sabotage incidents that compromised safety and operational performance.
A formal letter, signed by Femi Adekunle, Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management at Dangote Group, notified affected staff that their employment ended as of September 25.
The company emphasized that the decision was deliberate and necessary to protect the refinery’s integrity and ensure its sustainable operation.
“This measure is not arbitrary but essential to shield the refinery from ongoing sabotage that has raised safety alarms and disrupted efficiency,” the letter stated.
The refinery highlighted that the terminations were a response to repeated sabotage across various units, which posed serious risks to human safety and operational stability.
In retaliation, PENGASSAN urged its members to obstruct refinery operations by cutting off gas supplies, framing this as a protest against the dismissal of union members. The union also accused the refinery management of spreading false narratives to justify the layoffs.
Furthermore, PENGASSAN called for a nationwide withdrawal of services starting midnight on September 28, condemning what it described as anti-labor practices and discrimination against Nigerian workers, which prompted federal government involvement.
Dangote Refinery swiftly condemned the union’s actions as unlawful, warning PENGASSAN to comply with Nigerian laws and noting that the union lacks the authority to interfere with the refinery’s contracts with third-party suppliers of gas and crude oil.
The refinery appealed to the federal government and security agencies to intervene, stressing that the union’s conduct threatens the Nigerian economy and public welfare.
On the legislative front, the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) urged PENGASSAN to halt its directive to cut off gas and crude oil supplies to the refinery.
The federal government also appealed to PENGASSAN to suspend its planned nationwide strike, with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, announcing efforts to mediate and prevent escalation.
Reports indicated that PENGASSAN had blocked key entry points to major petroleum agencies, including NNPC Ltd, NMDPRA, and NUPRC, displaying banners with slogans such as “Dangote Must Comply” and “Dangote is Not Above the Law.”
The National Industrial Court in Abuja issued an interim injunction restraining PENGASSAN from continuing its industrial action and from disrupting crude and gas supplies to the refinery.
Following negotiations facilitated by the government, PENGASSAN suspended its nationwide strike after reaching an agreement with Dangote management.
The reconciliation talks, initially deadlocked, resumed at the Ministry of Labour and Employment and later moved to the Office of the National Security Adviser, culminating in a resolution early Wednesday morning.
Resolution and Way Forward
The parties concurred that workers’ right to unionize is protected under Nigerian law and must be respected.
It was agreed that Dangote Group would promptly initiate the transfer of the dismissed employees to other companies within the group, ensuring no loss of salary or victimization related to the dispute.