Union War Erupts: “Dangote Is The Enemy Of Nigeria’s Progress” – PENGASSAN President

The President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo, has accused the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, of deliberately sabotaging Nigeria’s economy.

The dispute between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery intensified on Sunday, September 28, 2025, after the union ordered its members nationwide to withdraw their services, following the reported dismissal of at least 800 workers.

Union leaders described the mass sack as a direct assault on workers’ rights and freedom of association, noting that it came shortly after large numbers of refinery staff joined PENGASSAN.

While the refinery management maintained that the layoffs were part of an internal restructuring, it also rejected unionisation efforts by its workforce, fueling allegations of anti-labour practices.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Osifo accused Dangote of undermining the economy despite building his fortune on government-backed privileges.

“The person sabotaging our economy is Aliko Dangote. He is who he is today because of Nigeria. The government gave him an exclusive licence to import flour, sugar, and salt. Dangote’s refinery was built with our money, as the Nigerian government subsidised foreign exchange for him to establish it,” Osifo declared.