A civil society organisation, Citizens for Inclusive Development and Economic Justice (CID-EJ), has dismissed the outrage by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the recruitment of 89 unskilled workers from Katsina State to the Dangote Refinery in Lekki, describing the criticism as misguided, sectional, and potentially inflammatory.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday and signed by the group’s president, Akintunde Afiz Babalola, CID-EJ said the NLC’s reaction amounted to fanning the flames of regionalism in a matter that should be guided by law, operational discretion, and national unity.
The group said that the refinery, a $28 billion project widely regarded as a game changer in Nigeria’s industrial space, should not be dragged into “localised labour politics” or reduced to a community quota system in employment.
“It is unfortunate that at a time when our nation needs unity and economic recovery, the Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress is making incendiary remarks simply because a group of workers happened to come from another state,” Babalola said.
“Nowhere in Nigerian labour law is it stated that 70 percent of unskilled workers must be from the host community. What we have are provisions for equity, fairness, and safety. Dangote Refinery has not been found to have violated any of these.
“These 89 workers were not illegal immigrants or foreigners; they are Nigerians. If they were legitimately hired by a vendor for work, the proper question to ask is whether due process was followed, not where they came from.”
CID-EJ also commended the Lagos State Police Command for swiftly investigating the viral video that showed the young men arriving at the refinery vicinity, saying its response helped to calm public anxiety.
“What is regrettable is how a respected labour body like the NLC is ignoring the explanations given both by the police and the refinery itself. Dangote Refinery has stated clearly that it is investigating the vendor responsible for the recruitment. What else should they do — burn the workers at the stake?” the group asked.
While acknowledging the need to prioritise local employment, the group warned against turning every employment issue into a tribal contest.
“There are thousands of Lagosians working in construction, hospitality, and oil facilities across the north and south of Nigeria. Should host communities everywhere now start chasing away Nigerians from other regions?” Babalola queried.
“The truth is, we have to move beyond this siege mentality. If a vendor brought in workers from Katsina, the key issue is whether that process met the standards required. If not, the vendor should be sanctioned. But don’t use this as an excuse to malign an employer that is providing jobs for tens of thousands of Nigerians.”
The group urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Ministry of Labour and Employment to remain neutral and avoid being dragged into what it described as “regional blackmail dressed as labour activism”.
Babalola concluded by calling on the NLC to redirect its energy toward ensuring workers’ rights are protected across all sectors, rather than stoking divisions over employment origin.
“Let’s focus on the bigger picture — ensuring decent wages, safety, and fair working conditions. These workers, whether from Katsina, Enugu, or Lagos, are all Nigerians trying to earn a living. They deserve dignity, not discrimination.”
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