The standoff between organised labour and the Dangote Group escalated on Monday as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) ordered its affiliate unions to prepare for a nationwide strike in solidarity with oil workers protesting alleged anti-labour practices at the $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The move follows industrial action declared by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which disrupted activities at major oil regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Despite an interim order by the National Industrial Court in Abuja barring PENGASSAN from halting crude and gas supply to the refinery, the union insisted it had not been formally served the injunction and vowed to continue its strike.
The crisis stems from claims that more than 800 workers at the Lekki-based refinery were dismissed after efforts to unionise, with many of their roles allegedly filled by expatriates. Dangote Group has denied union-busting, insisting the layoffs were part of a restructuring effort to strengthen safety and guard against sabotage, adding that over 3,000 Nigerians remain employed at the facility.
NLC President Joe Ajaero accused the conglomerate of “systematic exploitation” and of operating “like a state within a state.” He argued that the company’s treatment of workers violated the Nigerian Constitution and international labour conventions, declaring that the era of dialogue had given way to decisive resistance.
In a ruling delivered by Justice Emmanuel Subilim, the Industrial Court restrained PENGASSAN and its affiliates from embarking on any action that could cripple refinery operations. The judge held that allowing the strike to proceed unchecked would inflict irreparable harm on both the company and the Nigerian economy, which relies heavily on the refinery to reduce costly fuel imports.
Dangote’s legal team argued that the disengagement exercise was due to safety concerns and not union activities, stressing that sabotage incidents had threatened the plant’s operations.
Unimpressed by the court’s stance, the NLC directed its affiliates to immediately commence aggressive unionisation of Dangote Group workers and to set up mobilisation committees within 72 hours. Ajaero urged unity across sectors, describing the refinery dispute as part of a broader struggle against “capitalist impunity.”
PENGASSAN maintained that compliance with its strike order was total across oil and gas institutions. At both NUPRC and NMDPRA headquarters in Abuja, entrances were locked, leaving employees stranded.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) also threw its weight behind the oil unions, condemning what it described as unjust dismissal of workers and calling for the immediate reinstatement of those affected.
With the refinery central to Nigeria’s energy reforms and currency stability, labour leaders warned that any prolonged shutdown would ripple through the economy. Meanwhile, government mediators are attempting to broker peace, but the labour front insists it is ready for a “full-scale confrontation” if its demands are ignored.
