NLC Moves To Shutdown Dangote Refinery Over Labour Dispute

The Nigeria Labour Congress has ordered its affiliate unions to mobilise workers nationwide for an industrial action against the Dangote Group over alleged anti-labour practices.

The directive came on the heels of a strike already declared by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, which disrupted operations in key oil and gas regulatory agencies.

On Monday, PENGASSAN halted work at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. At some offices in Abuja, gates were locked as employees were denied entry in compliance with the strike. The shutdown has heightened concerns over fuel supply at a time the Dangote Refinery is seen as crucial to reducing imports.

The refinery, a $20bn project in Lekki, is at the centre of the dispute after PENGASSAN accused its management of sacking more than 800 workers who attempted to unionise, replacing them with expatriates. Dangote denied the allegations, insisting the layoffs were part of a safety-driven restructuring exercise and that over 3,000 Nigerians remain employed at the facility.

The National Industrial Court in Abuja moved quickly to restrain PENGASSAN from continuing with its action. The court barred the union from cutting off crude and gas supply to the refinery, ruling that such disruption could cause irreparable harm to the economy. The matter has been adjourned to October 13 for further hearing.

Despite the order, PENGASSAN vowed to press ahead, saying it had not been formally served any injunction. Its leadership maintained that only directives issued through official channels would stand, urging members to remain firm until the dismissed workers are reinstated.

The NLC has now thrown its full weight behind the oil union, accusing the Dangote Group of flouting Nigeria’s labour laws and international conventions. In an internal memo, the Congress described the refinery’s handling of workers as exploitative and directed affiliates to unionise employees in all Dangote facilities. Each affiliate has been asked to set up mobilisation committees within 72 hours to coordinate logistics and strategy.

The row has drawn wider support from other labour bodies. The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria joined the call, condemning the sackings as a violation of constitutional rights. It urged the government to launch an independent investigation into the refinery’s labour practices.

With government mediators already meeting with both sides in Abuja, the outcome of the talks will determine whether the refinery, Nigeria’s largest industrial investment, continues production without disruption or faces prolonged shutdown. The standoff now places the interests of workers and the future of Nigeria’s energy security in direct confrontation with the country’s biggest private-sector employer.