Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has issued a strong demand for the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of workers reportedly dismissed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery for affiliating with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
In a statement released in Abuja on Sunday, TUC Secretary General, Comrade Nuhu Toro, condemned the terminations as not only unconstitutional but also a blatant attack on workers’ rights.
> “Sacking employees simply because they joined a union is a direct affront to Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution,” Toro said. “It also breaches international labour standards to which Nigeria is a signatory, particularly ILO conventions on freedom of association.”
Describing the refinery’s action as “anti-worker and unacceptable,” Toro emphasized that the TUC stands firmly with PENGASSAN and the affected workers. He warned that all affiliate unions had been placed on high alert and could be mobilized at any moment.
> “No company—no matter how powerful or well-connected—has the right to undermine the dignity of Nigerian workers,” he stressed. “We are watching closely, and we will respond decisively if our concerns are ignored.”
The TUC is also calling for a public apology from the Dangote Group and written guarantees that similar acts of victimization will not occur in the future. Furthermore, the union is demanding an independent probe into the refinery’s labour practices, to be conducted with oversight from the Federal Ministry of Labour, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and other relevant stakeholders.
Toro made it clear that if these demands are not met promptly, the TUC would not hesitate to initiate a nationwide industrial action.
> “This isn’t just about a few workers—it’s about defending the constitutional rights of every Nigerian employee,” he concluded.
