The administration of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has clarified {that a} workforce reorganisation was needed following repeated instances of sabotage inside the refinery.
The refinery, on Friday, said that the restructuring train was geared toward safeguarding its operations and making certain the security of staff, stressing that the choice was not arbitrary however pushed by pressing safety and effectivity issues.
“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery needs to make clear current stories in regards to the ongoing reorganisation inside its facility. This train isn’t arbitrary. It has turn into essential to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage which have raised security issues and affected operational effectivity,” the assertion learn.
Based on the corporate, intermittent sabotage incidents had been recorded in numerous models of the refinery, posing potential dangers to human life and disrupting important operations.
The administration described these breaches as “dire” and warned that the power may face long-term instability with out decisive motion.
The corporate, nevertheless, reassured Nigerians that its workforce stays largely intact. It confirmed that over 3,000 Nigerians proceed to work on the refinery, and solely “a really small variety of workers” had been affected by the restructuring.
“Over 3,000 Nigerians proceed to work actively in our petroleum refinery at current. Solely a really small variety of workers had been affected, as we proceed to recruit Nigerian expertise by our varied graduate trainee programmes and skilled rent recruitment course of,” the administration mentioned.
The clarification comes amid speculations earlier within the week that the refinery, certainly one of Africa’s largest industrial initiatives, had launched into mass retrenchments. Labour unions and trade watchers had raised issues that the sack of staff may have an effect on not solely livelihoods but additionally broader confidence within the facility.
Business analysts observe that the Dangote Refinery, which started restricted operations earlier this yr, is a important a part of Nigeria’s push towards vitality independence.
With a every day refining capability of 650,000 barrels, the plant is anticipated to cut back Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum merchandise and reshape vitality provide throughout Africa.
The corporate emphasised that the refinery stays dedicated to upholding staff’ rights and worldwide labour requirements, together with staff’ freedom to hitch unions.
“We recognise and uphold internationally accepted labour ideas, together with the suitable of each employee to freely resolve whether or not or to not be a part of a union. Our dedication to staff’ rights is unwavering,” it mentioned.
Recall sacked staff, union tells Dangote Refinery
In the meantime, the Petroleum and Pure Gasoline Senior Employees Affiliation of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has issued an ultimatum to the administration of Dangote Refinery to recall Nigerian staff it allegedly sacked and changed with international nationals.
This was contained in a press release signed by Mr. Lumumba Okugbawa, Normal Secretary of PENGASSAN, and made obtainable to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.
The union condemned the motion and described it as anti-labour and a violation of Nigeria’s labour legal guidelines. Based on the affiliation, the refinery engaged greater than 2,000 Indian staff, lots of whom allegedly lack legitimate immigration documentation, to take over the roles of the disengaged Nigerians.
“We’re deeply saddened to report the unjust termination of greater than 800 Nigerian staff, whose dedication and repair have been integral to the operations of this plant. As a substitute of valuing and retaining this workforce, administration has chosen to interchange these certified Nigerians with international staff, in clear breach of the Labour Act and the Commerce Union Act,” it mentioned.
