The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has demanded that the management of the Dangote Petrochemical Refinery issue an open apology and reinstate more than 800 Nigerian workers recently dismissed by the company.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, the TUC Secretary General, Comrade Nuhu Toro, accused the refinery of violating the workers’ constitutional rights to freedom of association and unionisation.
“We demand the reversal of the arbitrary dismissal of over 800 workers by Dangote. If that is done, the next thing we demand is a public apology from the refinery management, with an assurance that such won’t be used against the union in the future,” Toro said.
Allegations of Double Standards and Oppression
Toro further accused the refinery management of operating double standards, alleging preferential treatment for Indian expatriates while Nigerian workers faced “oppression and modern-day slavery.”
“Unionisation is a right, and workers in Dangote have the right to belong to a union of their choice. In these circumstances, the workers have indicated that they want to belong to PENGASSAN. Instead of respecting this, the management is hiding under unsubstantiated allegations of sabotage,” he said.
He reminded the refinery of a previous agreement signed with the unions that no worker would be victimised. According to him, the unions are not against the refinery but will not tolerate what he described as “slave labour.”
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“It is instructive that organised labour once stood by Dangote when he was facing challenges in getting interventions to kickstart the refinery. So it would be unfair to think we want to sabotage it. But what we will not accept is slavery,” Toro insisted.
The Dangote Refinery, commissioned in May 2023, has been embroiled in industrial disputes in recent months, with PENGASSAN recently declaring a nationwide strike over the sack of the workers and alleged refusal of the company to recognise union activities.
