The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has directed its members nationwide to withdraw their services, starting from 12:01 a.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025.
This industrial action follows the mass sack of over 800 Nigerian workers at the Dangote Refinery.
PENGASSAN’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, announced that the union’s National Executive Council had ordered all members working across field locations to withdraw their services effective 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 28, while those in offices, companies, institutions, and agencies were to withdraw services from 12:01 a.m. on Monday, September 29.
The union alleges that Dangote Refinery breached Nigeria’s labor laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organisation conventions by terminating the workers’ contracts. “The refinery has replaced Nigerians with over 2,000 foreign workers, subjecting our people to the worst type of working conditions in the oil and gas industry,” Okugbawa stated.
Dangote Refinery management, however, dismissed PENGASSAN’s claims, describing them as unfounded and misleading. The company explained that the development was part of a reorganization exercise aimed at strengthening operations and addressing repeated acts of sabotage within the facility.
The strike will impact operations in the oil and gas sector nationwide, with potential ripple effects on fuel supply and refinery output. PENGASSAN has instructed its members to ramp down gas production and supply to the Dangote Refinery and petrochemicals unit.
“An injury to one is an injury to all. No man is bigger than our country,” Okugbawa said, emphasizing the union’s determination to protect workers’ rights. The union has also declared a 24-hour nationwide prayer, calling on authorities to intervene and compel Dangote Refinery to respect Nigeria’s labor laws.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has expressed solidarity with PENGASSAN, condemning the alleged anti-union practices at Dangote Refinery. The development has sparked concerns about the potential impact on the nation’s energy infrastructure and economy.