Dangote Refinery says some of its employees sacked on Wednesday were found to be sabotaging the company, saying the action was necessary to protect the interests of Nigerians and Africans whose interest the refinery is serving.
The management of the $20 billion Lagos refinery disclosed this on Friday in a statement amidst reports that it has sacked a large number of its workforce who joined PENGASAN.
The company said it will not fold its arms while some employees are sabotaging its business, insisting that what it did was to show those involved in the sabotage the way out of the company.
It stressed that there are still over 3000 Nigerians currently in its workforce, saying the recruitment of professionals has been a regular exercise in the company.
The statement read: “This exercise is not arbitrary. It has become necessary to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that have raised safety concerns and affected operational efficiency.
“The foregoing decision was taken in the best interest of the Refinery as result of intermittent cases of sabotage in the various units of the Refinery with dire consequences on human life and related safety concerns.
“We remain vigilant to our internal systems and vulnerabilities to ensure the long-term stability of this strategic national asset. It is imperative to protect the refinery for the benefit of Nigerians, our partners across Africa, and the thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on it.
“Over 3,000 Nigerians continue to work actively in our Petroleum Refinery, at present. Only a very small number of staff were affected, as we continue to recruit Nigerian talent through our various graduate trainee programmes and experienced hire recruitment process.
“We recognise and uphold internationally accepted labour principles, including the right of every worker to freely decide whether or not to join a union. Our commitment to workers’ rights is unwavering.
“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery exists to serve Nigerians, to strengthen Africa’s energy independence, and to create decent, sustainable jobs. We will continue to work in partnership with our employees, regulators, and stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of safety, transparency, and accountability.”
The magazine had earlier reported that Festus Osifo, PENGASAN and TUC President insisted that the sacked workers be recalled.
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