NewStats: 3,259,825 , 8,170,943 topics. Date: Monday, 26 May 2025 at 05:15 AM i3m6u

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a warning to the Lagos State Government and the Dangote Refinery over the alleged recruitment of 89 unskilled labourers from Katsina State to work at the company’s $28 billion facility in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos

The NLC, through its Lagos State chapter, described the action as a violation of labour laws and a potential security risk to the host community.

Weekend Trust reports that the arrival of the youths was captured in a viral video showing them disembarking from a truck and gathering in front of a company near the refinery. It was gathered that concerned of the public alerted the police over the group.

However, the Lagos State police command allayed public fears, saying that the young men were legitimately recruited workers. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated: “Upon receipt of the information on May 14, 2025, officers from the command immediately deployed to the location to ascertain the facts.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the young men in question, 89 in number, had arrived from Katsina State and were recruited to work as labourers at the Dangote Refinery in Lekki.”

However, in an exclusive interview with Weekend Trust, the chairperson of NLC in Lagos State, Comrade Funmi Sessi, insisted that the presence of the young men constituted a security threat in the state, adding that bringing them also violated labour laws.

Sessi, who spoke to our correspondent in Abuja shortly after the National Executive Council of the National Union of Food Beverages and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE) said, “My position is that what the Dangote Refinery did is very wrong.

“These people are low-income earners. The rule of engagement and labour rules have stated clearly that 70 per cent of those in the locality should be given the opportunity while 30 per cent can be given to those who have skills.

“Which kind of skills will they tell us that these people have that the young people who are unemployed in the locality don’t have? Which competence don’t those people in the community have? This is an aberration.

“I believe Dangote can’t do this. He has companies in all parts of this country; why couldn’t he recruit these guys for his company in the northern part and reserve these ones for those in the South, where the refinery is situated?”

The labour leader called on the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Federal Ministry of Labour to call the management of the Dangote Refinery to return the “boys” in order to avert the labour crisis.

She said, “Anyway, this is not the first time he is doing this. Dangote is fond of bringing in Indians and other expatriates as technicians.

He prefers to bring foreigners who don’t even have the knowledge of our own local people. This is unacceptable to us.

“We are already calling him out. This is the first series of it. We are also using this opportunity to tell the government of Lagos State and the Federal Ministry of Labour that Dangote has committed an aberration of the highest order.

“Those guys should be taken back to Dangote’s companies in the northern part, not in Lagos State. If Dangote refuses to do this, we will involve the NLC at the national level to fight this act of bringing 89 unskilled workers to Lagos State.”

We’re investigating- Dangote Refinery

Meanwhile, the Dangote Refinery said it is investigating the circumstances surrounding their presence at the refinery.

“We did not know anything about them. They were brought in by one of our vendors, working in the refinery

“And as you know, for a project of that magnitude, we have so many vendors, working for us.

“We are already investigating the matter too,” said a spokesperson with the refinery in a text message to Weekend Trust.

https://dailytrust.com/nlc-threatens-showdown-over-89-labourers-at-dangote-refinery/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwKVNaxjbGNrApU1JWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeNPFg8o_tQnjF0sITTECS9NyWGj0rpPa4HcXWLiGxM3_SSKH8CHXc0A6FUfw_aem_3WLEe0EtbDz0ByjI1-kEzw

Yes Dangote should employ indigenous people...it is a grave security risk, and reeks of nepotism to be importing workers from North... what is the rationale behind it?

Also, Location must enjoy job opportunities, the state you cite your business where you are earning from should benefit employment opportunities for its residents from you not bringing in people from other regions.

Labour is very correct on this, it is against good sense.

The Constitution, which overrides any labour law, says there is freedom of movement for any Nigerian within Nigeria and also the freedom of any Nigerian to work in any place within Nigeria.

NLC should stop sounding like the MURIC professor who uses religious sentiments to talk nonsense. I'm sure the agberos in Lagos are too lazy to work as labourers in Dangote refinery hence the reason why Dangote brought in his brothers for employment. Those northern guys are very hardworking and sincere.

Nonsense

One oga wey get leg in the refinery don use am recruit em people from k*tsina .Na so them dey run am ooo and una go dey form executive decorum when una own people need job.

Ronu people are focusing on omoiyiobo not knowing that the issues they're facing are not from the omoiyiobo but those they fear most...

Beremx:
NLC should stop sounding like the MURIC professor who uses religious sentiments to talk nonsense. I'm sure the agberos in Lagos are too lazy to work as labourers in Dangote refinery hence the reason why Dangote brought in his brothers for employment. Those northern guys are very hardworking and sincere.

Nonsense

They used to be, but not now. In labour, like wheelbarrow pushing, the Hausa/Fulani charges the most, followed by Igbos, and the considerable Benue/Tiv people.

Additionally, the Hausa/Fulani have become the least industrious group in Nigeria today. The tribes from the Middle Belt are now recognized as the most hardworking when it comes to menial jobs."

The rationale behind it is that an Aboki owns the refinery and can employ his people. Go look for Yoruba companies!

dederocs:
Yes Dangote should employ indigenous people...it is a grave security risk, and reeks of nepotism to be importing workers from North... what is the rationale behind it?

All these working for Dangote hulabalu is a smokescreen from the main thing.

One nijeria..

Noisemakers

NLC, after the reggae, play the blues 🎧

This is discrimination.... His company, his rules

I don't know NLC's problem, Fulanis and Yorubas are brothers so I don't understand the issue here.


🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Same NLC Abi another one?

Looks like Dangote might have a hand in insecurity in nigeria. That is looking very clear now

It's Tribesmen that run their kinsmen companies in Nigeria, very common in the manufacturing sector down to distributorship and market 🤷.
Leave Dangote to bring his people, nothing go sub sef👌💯.
Dangote haff paid Lagos state government 🤷 already.
Agbadorians will scream blood tire

Those of us in the real sector of the economy know that there are certain jobs only northern youths can do effectively, jobs that youths in Lagos State would struggle with or see as condescending.
I believe that before recruiting those boys from the northern part of the country, the managers of the refinery must have been frustrated by the labourers of Lagos.

Sangoamadioha1:
The Constitution, which overrides any labour law, says there is freedom of movement for any Nigerian within Nigeria and also the freedom of any Nigerian to work in any place within Nigeria.

Did you even read the constitutional reasons they based their demands on?


Or you just feel like dancing n a k e d.

nonsense.


NLC should go and build their own company/factory and employ their own people.

They are claiming Kastina but they are actually from Niger

Yinmu

If Nigeria was a normal country, things like this would be overlooked.

But things are not normal. Take the actions of those people at face value at your own peril.

Every tiny bit of their move needs to be thoroughly interrogated.

They will never allow this in their domain, what makes them feel others should allow it.

E

Basically are they not qualify for the job? Or it because of where they came from?

Chimarto:
Ronu people are focusing on omoiyiobo not knowing that the issues they're facing are not from the omoiyiobo but those they fear most...

nah...it's rather "those they worship"...

Sangoamadioha1:
The Constitution, which overrides any labour law, says there is freedom of movement for any Nigerian within Nigeria and also the freedom of any Nigerian to work in any place within Nigeria.

What has freedom of movement got to do with what is written in the post?

Always "Threatening" showdown every second.

Idiotic barking dogs who have lost their relevance to greed and politics.