The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has terminated the contracts of all its Nigerian employees.
The mass sack came less than 24 hours after 90 percent of the workers joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
The development was revealed in a statement shared on X, Wednesday, by political commentator Imran Wakili.
“Dangote Refinery has officially laid off all of its Nigerian workers under the guise of ‘reorganization’, less than 24 hours after 90% of them joined PENGASSAN,” he wrote.
According to a memo dated September 25, 2025, and signed by Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle, the decision was described as a “total re-organisation” of the plant following alleged cases of sabotage in various units of the refinery.
The notice instructed dismissed staff to return all company property to their line managers and secure exit clearance. It also directed the finance department to compute their benefits and entitlements for settlement in line with existing terms of employment.
Management expressed appreciation to the affected workers for their service while in the company’s employment.
Meanwhile, PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, who also heads the Trade Union Congress (TUC), confirmed in an interview with DAILY POST that all Nigerian workers were dismissed shortly after joining the union.
“Yes, it is true. We saw the letter late last night (Wednesday). I can assure you that they will recall all of them,” Osifo stated.
As of press time, Dangote Refinery’s management had not issued an official response to the development.
