…Asserts Workforce Exceeds 3,000 Nigerians
THE MANAGEMENT of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has issued a formal rebuttal against allegations made by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) that it engaged in the mass dismissal of employees for joining the union.
In an official statement on Friday, the company described the claims as unfounded and misleading. It clarified that a recent reorganisation of its workforce was conducted to enhance operational efficiency and address repeated incidents of sabotage within the facility.
The refinery management disclosed that following the reorganisation, its workforce continues to comprise over 3,000 active Nigerian employees.
It added that only a minimal number of positions were affected, emphasising its ongoing commitment to hiring through graduate trainee programs and the recruitment of experienced personnel.
The company justified the restructuring as a necessary measure prompted by intermittent acts of sabotage, which it stated posed significant safety risks and caused operational disruptions.
According to the statement, the decision is in the best interest of protecting the refinery, a facility deemed a strategic national asset, for the benefit of Nigeria, its continental partners, and the thousands dependent on it for their livelihoods.
Reassuring stakeholders, the management reaffirmed its adherence to internationally recognised labour principles, including the right of employees to freely associate with unions.
It describes the reorganisation as an internal audit process essential for ensuring the long-term stability and security of the plant.
The company pledged to continue collaboration with regulators, employees, and stakeholders to maintain the highest standards of safety, transparency, and accountability.
Earlier on Friday, there ware media reports that the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery had, in a major shake-up, sacked all of its Nigerian workers citing internal restructuring and security concerns.
The decision, the reports stated, comes less than 24 hours after approximately 90% of the Nigerian workforce reportedly joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
The reports made reference to an internal memo dated Thursday, September 25, 2025 and signed by the Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management, Mr. Femi Adekunle, in which the company announced the dismissals as part of a “total re-organisation” of the refinery’s operations. The memo referenced reported cases of sabotage in multiple units of the plant as a contributing factor in the decision.
Affected employees were said to have been instructed to return all company property in their possession to their direct supervisors and to proceed with the exit clearance process just as the Finance Department of the refinery had been directed to calculate final entitlements for each dismissed employee in accordance with their employment terms.
