Breaking: Dangote Refinery Terminates Employment of Nigerian Staff

In a major shake-up, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has terminated the employment of all Nigerian workers at the facility, citing internal restructuring and security concerns.

The decision 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), raising questions about the timing and motivation behind the mass layoff.

In an internal memo dated September 25 and signed by the Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management, Mr. Femi Adekunle, 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 instructed to return all company property in their possession to their direct supervisors and to proceed with the exit clearance process.

The refinery’s Finance Department has been directed to calculate final entitlements for each dismissed employee in accordance with their employment terms.

While the management expressed appreciation for the contributions of the outgoing workers, the abrupt nature of the decision — and its close proximity to the workers’ alignment with the union — is expected to spark significant public and industry reaction.

PENGASSAN has yet to issue an official response, but labor advocates and stakeholders are already raising concerns over the implications of the move on workers’ rights and unionisation in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.