Dangote Petroleum Refinery In a shocking twist that has sent ripples across Nigeria’s labour and industrial sector, has allegedly terminated the employment of all its Nigerian workers. The move, reportedly communicated through an internal memo dated 25 September 2025, has sparked outrage among unions, labour activists, and the general public, who view it as a direct attack on workers’ rights.
According to the report, the refinery management cited a “total re-organisation” as the reason behind the mass disengagement. Workers were allegedly instructed to immediately return all company property, including identification cards and uniforms, and proceed to obtain exit clearance from the human resources department. The development, if confirmed, marks one of the most controversial labour actions in Nigeria’s recent industrial history.
The decision is said to have come barely 24 hours after reports that over 90 percent of the refinery’s staff had joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). This timing has fueled suspicions that the mass sack was triggered by workers’ growing alignment with labour unions, a move management may have perceived as a threat to its operations.
The Labour leaders have described the alleged sack as “unprecedented” and “unacceptable.” Some union officials argue that if true, the decision represents an extreme case of anti-labour practice, capable of undermining Nigeria’s international reputation on workers’ rights. They have called for immediate intervention by the Federal Government and the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The $20 billion refinary touted as Africa’s largest, was commissioned amid high expectations of transforming Nigeria’s energy sector, creating thousands of jobs, and reducing dependence on fuel imports. The news of mass termination, therefore, raises concerns not just for employees but also for the economic promises tied to the refinery’s operations.
Critics also point to earlier tensions between the Dangote Refinery and workers’ unions. Just weeks before, PENGASSAN and NUPENG had accused the company of frustrating unionisation efforts and compelling staff to sign waivers renouncing their rights to join unions. While the refinery’s management denied these allegations, the latest development appears to lend weight to union claims of systemic hostility toward organised labour.
Social media platforms have since been flooded with reactions, with many Nigerians questioning how a company of such scale could abruptly disengage its workforce. While some defended Dangote Group’s right to restructure its operations, others condemned the move as corporate impunity, stressing that Nigerian workers deserve protection, not exploitation, in their own country.
Calls are mounting for the National Industrial Court to take up the matter should official complaints be filed.
At the time of filing this report, Dangote Petroleum Refinery had yet to issue a formal response to the allegations and the mass sacking continues to fuel debates nationwide about labour rights, corporate responsibility, and the balance of power between employers and employees in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape.
