NLC protesters
By OLA MODUPE, Lagos-
Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on Dangote Industries Ltd. to allow its employees to join workers’ unions to safeguard their rights and enhance workplace conditions.
The appeal was made by NLC Lagos Chairperson, Funmi Sesi, during a Tuesday tour of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant by NLC officials and members of the Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN).
“On behalf of NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, we urge Dangote to give us a chance to unionize your workers,” Sesi stated, emphasizing that unionization would help organize employees, address their concerns, and ultimately improve operational efficiency for the company.
Sesi also pressed Dangote Industries to hire more workers from its host communities, citing labor laws that mandate 70 percent of a company’s workforce should come from its catchment area, with only 30 percent as expatriates.
In response, Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to employing and training local talent.
He highlighted the company’s training center in Obajana, Kogi State, and plans to establish another in Lagos.
“Dangote has become a nurturing ground for Nigerian engineers, scientists, and technicians, many of whom now work as expatriates globally,” Edwin noted.
Edwin underscored the company’s focus on human capital development and community welfare, stating, “We ensure our host communities are happy; otherwise, we cannot operate effectively. Our priority is their satisfaction.”
He added that 22 percent of the company’s workforce is drawn from host communities, 50 percent from the state, and the remainder from other regions, reflecting a balanced approach to employment.
