Dangote Petroleum Refinery Terminates Employment of Nigerian Workers Following Union Membership.
By Our Correspondent.
In a significant development, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has terminated the employment of all its Nigerian workers less than 24 hours after the majority of them joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
The decision, outlined in a memo dated September 25, 2025, was signed by Femi Adekunle, the Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management.
The memo cited a comprehensive re-organization of the refinery as the rationale behind the dismissals, referencing alleged sabotage activities reported across various units of the facility.
Affected employees were instructed to return company property to their line managers and obtain exit clearance. Additionally, the finance department has been tasked with calculating the benefits and entitlements of the dismissed workers, in accordance with their employment terms.
While management acknowledged the contributions of the terminated employees during their tenure, the abrupt decision has heightened tensions in the ongoing dispute between the refinery and PENGASSAN regarding union membership rights.