Dangote Refinery Faces Coordinated Labour War as NLC Joins Strike

The Dangote Refinery, a massive symbol of Nigeria’s industrial ambition, is now the central stage for an escalating national labour conflict. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has formally directed all its affiliates to mobilize in support of the nationwide strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). This move represents a unification of labour power against the conglomerate, marking a “full-scale, decisive engagement” against what the unions allege are widespread anti-worker practices.

The Core of the Conflict is rooted in the unions’ conviction that the Dangote Group is actively suppressing the constitutional rights of its employees. PENGASSAN declared the strike after alleging the mass sacking of Nigerian workers who sought to form a union, which the NLC forcefully condemned as a “capitalist pathology of union-busting, worker enslavement, and gross impunity.” The NLC’s directive, signed by Comrade Joe Ajaero, goes beyond simple support, calling for the immediate and “vigorous and comprehensive unionisation of all workers” across every Dangote Group facility nationwide.

The NLC and PENGASSAN have issued a severe indictment, claiming the Dangote Refinery operates as a “plantation of exploitation” and functions as a “state within a state.” They assert that the company has repeatedly flouted fundamental Nigerian and international labour laws, including: Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution (guaranteeing the right to freedom of association) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98 (protecting the right to organise and bargain collectively).

The Strike’s Impact has been immediate and critical. PENGASSAN successfully directed its members to cut off gas and crude oil supplies to the refinery, effectively forcing the shutdown of the facility and posing a severe risk to Nigeria’s energy stability. This action has occurred despite ongoing, high-stakes talks between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery management, mediated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, who has urged a speedy resolution in the national interest. The unified labour front signals an uncompromising commitment to compel the conglomerate to adhere to the rule of law.