The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has formally called on the management of the Dangote Petrochemical Refinery to issue an open, public apology to the group.
This demand comes in response to the refinery’s decision to dismiss more than 800 Nigerian workers.
The TUC’s action highlights a significant labor dispute, as the union seeks accountability and redress for the massive job cuts implemented by the refinery.
The union views the dismissal of over 800 employees as a serious violation of fair labor practices and is using the demand for a public apology to draw attention to the plight of the affected Nigerian workers.
On Monday, the Secretary General of TUC, Nuhu Toro, noted that the refinery violated the sacked workers’ constitutional rights.
The TUC Chief was reacting to the disagreement between the refinery and the Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over unionisation.
“The Dangote and PENGASSAN rift concerns the TUC because PENGASSAN is an affiliate of the TUC, and there is no way they can beat your child, and the father stays aloof.
“Even the last meeting that was held on the 8th of September at the Ministry of Labour office, both PENGASSAN and the TUC were represented.
“We demand the reversal of the arbitrary dismissal of over 800 workers by Dangote. If that is done, the next thing that 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,” he said.
Secretary-General of the Secretary General of TUC, Comrade Nuhu Toro, while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday
According to him, the Dangote Refinery has, since the breakout of the ongoing dispute with PENGASSAN, avoided addressing the crux of the matter.
“In some of the commentaries flying around, Dangote has refused to address the substantial matter here, which is the violation of workers’ right to belong to any union of their choice.
He further alleged that management of the Refinery was operating double standards in its treatment of Nigerian workers as against its Indian expatriates, describing the controversy as “oppression” against the affected employees.
“Even more disturbing is the monopoly and double standard of Dangote, who enjoys massive state support, protection, and a lot of goodwill from this government.
“The same organisation turns around to deny Nigerians of their fundamental rights, while extending preferential treatment to expatriates, the Indians who we all know work within the same organisation.
“This is nothing but a show of economic oppression in modern-day slavery, and this is not acceptable to the TUC and even PENGASSAN,” the TUC secretary general stated.
He argued that Dngote Refinery should allow its workers to belong to unions of their choice.
“Dangote should allow the workers to belong to the union of their choice. He should respect the rights of the over 800 workers and reinstate them; the unions are also ready to shift grounds in the interest of Nigerians.
“Don’t forget that we are also Nigerians, and nobody in Nigeria is more patriotic than the workers who toil to create the wealth that is used to develop this nation.
“So when I listen to commentaries about the free trade zones and people not being patriotic, it is laughable. Onne is a free trade zone, and workers in ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies in Onne are members of unions,” Toro added.
