By Yahaya Umar, Abuja
Civil society organisation, Save the Republic, has said that the recent sacking of over 800 engineers and other workers of Dangote Refinery after attempts to join a trade union raises serious questions about labour rights, fair employment practices.
Convener of the group, Deji Adeyanju, Esq., in a statement said unionism “is a constitutional guarantee under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended”.
“It is important that Nigerian workers are able to exercise this right without fear of dismissal or intimidation”, Adeyanju added.
He on to say that Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection laws discourage practices that could entrench monopoly or undermine the rights of stakeholders, including employees.
In the vein, the group noted that “This is not only a matter of labour relations but also of public accountability”.
Furthermore, “When a project of this scale has received extraordinary state support, Nigerians have a right to demand fair treatment of workers and full transparency in employment practices”, it stated.
The group then called on relevant government agencies to look into the matter and provide clarity on the reported mass dismissals, as well as on allegations that some positions previously held by Nigerians were being filled by foreign workers.
Besides, appealed for calm and dialogue in resolving the ongoing dispute. It urged all parties to return to the negotiation table, stressing that the rights of workers must be respected while also ensuring that the refinery continues to thrive.
According to the group “The way forward is the dialogue table. Nobody wants to kill the Dangote Refinery. We all want Dangote to work, but we also want the rights of the Nigerian worker to be respected”.
The group pointed out that its position is not against the refinery or its management, “It is about ensuring fairness and protecting the dignity of Nigerian workers through constructive dialogue”.
As part of a sustainable resolution, the group recommended the reinstatement of the affected workers.
The group, however, commended the Department of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment for their efforts at resolving the dispute.
