Economy

NLC Red Alert Sparks Showdown with Dangote Refinery

Published

1 year ago

September 30, 2025

NLC red alert over Dangote Refinery sackings raises strike threat as unions demand workers’ rights and compliance with labour laws

NLC red alert has been issued nationwide as the standoff between the Nigeria Labour Congress, Dangote Refinery, and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) escalates.

Also read: Dangote Refinery Faces Labour Crisis as Union Halts Supply

The dispute stems from PENGASSAN’s allegation that more than 800 Nigerian workers were arbitrarily dismissed for joining the union.

On Monday, union members enforced a directive of their national executive committee by barricading the Abuja headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, marking the beginning of industrial action.

In a strongly worded statement, NLC President Joe Ajaero accused the Dangote Group of “gross impunity and union-busting,” describing its actions as a direct assault on workers’ rights and Nigeria’s labour laws.

“The Dangote Group has operated for too long as a state within a state, flouting Section 40 of our Constitution, violating ILO Conventions 87 and 98, and treating our national labour laws with contempt,” Ajaero declared.

He added that the company’s facilities resembled “plantations of exploitation” where profit was prioritised over workers’ dignity. According to him, the era of “fruitless dialogue” was over, as labour leaders prepared for full-scale confrontation.

The NLC has directed all affiliate unions to set up Action Mobilisation Committees within 72 hours and liaise with its secretariat. Their demands include unconditional respect for unionisation rights, an end to intimidation, and full compliance with labour laws.

Ajaero concluded with a warning: “The impunity of the Dangote Group must be met with the resistance of organised labour. The blood and sweat of Nigerian workers built this conglomerate; we will not let it become a monument to their oppression.”

Also read: Dangote Refinery Reorganises Workforce Over Sabotage

The NLC red alert signals an intensifying crisis, with the real possibility of a nationwide strike if the refinery and its parent conglomerate fail to engage in dialogue.

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Economy

NRS Assures Taxpayers VAT Remains at 7.5% Amid Tax Reform Concerns

Published

17 hours ago

October 27, 2026

Peculiar Adirika

NRS VAT rate remains 7.5%, the agency says, while addressing concerns over bank deductions, loans and the implementation of Nigeria’s tax reforms

The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has assured taxpayers that Nigeria’s standard Value Added Tax (VAT) rate remains 7.5 per cent, while addressing concerns over the implementation of the country’s new tax reforms.

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The assurance was given by the Tax Administrator responsible for Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, Samaila Abdullahi, during an NRS stakeholders’ engagement and tax reform sensitisation programme in Kano.

Abdullahi said concerns raised by individuals, traders, business owners and other stakeholders about the new tax laws were understandable, particularly questions relating to bank transactions, loans, family transfers, business income and the potential impact on small businesses.

He urged taxpayers to understand the reforms through the provisions of the law rather than rely on assumptions or misinformation.

According to him, the tax laws do not automatically authorise deductions from personal bank accounts.

He stressed that tax collection and recovery must follow the applicable legal provisions and procedures.

Abdullahi also clarified that money received as a loan should not automatically be classified as business income or profit, explaining that proper documentation is essential to establish the nature of a transaction.

“For instance, when a trader receives a loan of N500,000, the amount should not automatically be treated as N500,000 in sales or profit, provided the transaction is properly documented,” he said.

The NRS official’s comments were aimed at addressing public concerns about how the new tax framework would affect personal finances and business transactions.

He emphasised the importance of distinguishing between taxable business receipts and other funds, such as documented loans, when determining a taxpayer’s obligations.

The clarification comes amid heightened public interest in Nigeria’s tax reforms and questions about their implications for individuals, traders and small businesses.