The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has ordered its unions to gear up for a nationwide strike, accusing Dangote Refinery of acting like a “state within a state” and trampling on workers’ rights. In a fiery memo signed Monday by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the union blasted the refinery for flouting Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organisation rules by allegedly sacking workers for joining unions.
The move comes amid a heated clash with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which claims over 800 workers were fired. The NLC called Dangote’s facilities “plantations of exploitation” where workers’ dignity is crushed for profit. “No more begging or endless talks,” Ajaero wrote. “It’s time for action.”
The NLC’s demands are clear: Dangote must respect workers’ rights to join unions, stop intimidation, and follow labour laws. Unions are now on “full alert” to unionize every Dangote facility. Each union has 72 hours to set up an Action Mobilisation Committee and link up with NLC headquarters for strategy and logistics. “Dangote’s impunity will face the full force of organized labour,” Ajaero declared, adding, “Nigerian workers built this empire; we won’t let it become their prison.”
What Sparked the Fight?
The dispute exploded after Dangote Refinery sacked workers it accused of sabotaging its massive 650,000-barrel-per-day plant, calling it a “reorganisation.” PENGASSAN hit back hard, announcing a strike on September 27, ordering members to halt crude oil and gas supplies to the refinery and scale back production at major oil firms. They even planned prayer vigils and blocked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s offices in Abuja.
Dangote fired back, accusing PENGASSAN of trying to cripple Nigeria’s energy supply. The National Industrial Court in Abuja stepped in on September 29, issuing an order to stop PENGASSAN’s strike. Meanwhile, the Federal Government is pushing for talks to cool things down, but the NLC’s involvement and support from groups like the Trade Union Congress and women’s organizations has raised the stakes. Analysts warn that a bigger strike could disrupt fuel supplies and trade across West Africa. Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has urged the government to act fast to avoid economic chaos.
As of now, the strike has already shut down offices of the oil regulator and state oil company, fueling fears of shortages. With tensions this high, Nigeria’s labour battle is far from over.
