The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has allegedly recalled some old applicants for job screening just hours after sacking no fewer than 800 workers.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) earlier alleged that several Nigerian workers were dismissed by the refinery, stating that the group was working to “resolve” the matter.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery later confirmed the dismissal of some staff, describing it as a limited reorganisation aimed at shielding the facility from sabotage and maintaining long-term stability.
The company insisted the exercise was not arbitrary, emphasising that more than 3,000 Nigerians remain on its payroll, with fresh recruitment still ongoing.
‘Over 800 Nigerians affected’ — PENGASSAN
But PENGASSAN contested the refinery’s account, insisting that over 800 Nigerians had been laid off.
In a statement on Friday, signed by general secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, the union accused the refinery of replacing them with thousands of expatriates, many allegedly lacking proper documentation.
PENGASSAN labelled the move an “anti-labour practice” and a blatant breach of Nigeria’s labour laws.
The union cautioned that unless Dangote reinstates the sacked employees, it may be forced to take both legal and industrial action.
Dangote Refinery sends invites to old applicants for job offers
Rather than yielding to union pressure, the refinery has reportedly begun inviting old applicants for job screening.
A political commentator, Imran Wakili, disclosed this on his X handle on Friday, alleging that the company had started recalling job seekers who were screened but not hired as far back as 2022.
He noted that some of these candidates had received new emails from the refinery instructing them to resume medical checks — a compulsory step before employment.
Wakili questioned the timing of the move, highlighting its closeness to the mass layoff reports.
“Dangote Refinery is sending emails to some of the people who were screened but not employed as far back as 2022, inviting them to resume medicals.
“Why is the refinery recalling candidates now, immediately after letting go of hundreds of workers? This is clearly an attempt to quietly replace the unionized staff who were recently laid off,” Wakili wrote.
Meanwhile, the refinery had yet to release an official response to the allegation as of press time.
