TUC Demands Public Apology, Reinstatement of 800 Sacked Dangote Workers

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has called on the management of the Dangote Petrochemical Refinery to reinstate over 800 dismissed Nigerian workers and issue a public apology for what it described as a violation of their constitutional rights.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, TUC Secretary General, Comrade Nuhu Toro, said the refinery’s decision to terminate the workers’ contracts undermined their right to unionise under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), an affiliate of the TUC.

“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 Dangote Refinery management, with an assurance that such won’t be used against the union in the future,” Toro stated.

He accused the refinery of breaching a previous agreement not to victimise staff, alleging that management had avoided addressing the core issue of workers’ rights. Toro also claimed that Dangote applied double standards by treating expatriate workers differently from Nigerians, describing the practice as “economic oppression” and “modern-day slavery.”

“Unionisation is a right, and workers in Dangote have the right to belong to a union of their choice. The affected workers chose to join PENGASSAN, and for the company to retaliate is unacceptable,” he said.

Toro stressed that organised labour had previously supported Aliko Dangote when his refinery faced obstacles, and it was therefore “unfair” for the company to now deny Nigerian workers their rights.

While dismissing claims that the workers were unpatriotic or sabotaging the economy, the TUC insisted that unionisation is enshrined in law and cannot be compromised.