PENGASSAN To Kick Start Nationwide Strike From Monday

In a dramatic turn of events, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has mobilized its members across the nation to withdraw their services in response to the alleged mass termination of over 800 Nigerian workers at Dangote Refinery.

This decisive action follows an emergency National Executive Council meeting held on Saturday, September 27, 2025. In a compelling circular, penned by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, the union accused the refinery of breaching Nigeria’s labor laws, the Constitution, and international labor conventions by dismissing employees simply for being part of the association.

The accusations were serious: PENGASSAN claimed that Dangote had replaced these ousted workers with more than 2,000 Indian employees, labeling this move as “an affront to all workers in Nigeria.” To advocate for their cause, the union has urged its members in field locations to cease operations beginning Sunday. A complete nationwide shutdown across all offices, companies, institutions, and agencies is set to commence on Monday.

The letter from PENGASSAN outlines their bold steps: “All members working in field locations are to halt services effective 06:00 hours on Sunday, September 28, 2025, and participate in 24-hour prayer vigils. This includes all control room operations, panel operations, and outfield personnel.”

Furthermore, the directive states, “All PENGASSAN members across offices, companies, institutions, and agencies must withdraw services starting 00:01 on Monday, September 29, 2025.” The letter goes on to specify that all gas and crude supply processes to the Dangote Refinery should cease immediately.

In a show of solidarity, the union announced a series of 24-hour prayer vigils and called for government intervention, emphasizing that the strike will persist until the dismissed workers are reinstated. “An injury to one is an injury to all. No man is bigger than our country,” the circular passionately declared.

This tension comes in the wake of an ongoing dispute between Dangote Refinery and Nigerian labor unions regarding labor rights and safety standards. The situation escalated when, in a letter dated September 24, 2025, Dangote announced the dismissal of certain staff over alleged sabotage that posed risks to the operational safety of its impressive 650,000-barrel-per-day facility.

While PENGASSAN asserts that around 800 workers were let go, they are calling on other labor unions, relevant government agencies, and stakeholders to intervene, framing the conflict as one of “urgent national importance.” In contrast, Dangote’s management has vehemently denied any mass layoffs, stating that they are undergoing an internal reorganization to boost efficiency while maintaining that the majority of their workforce remains Nigerian.

As PENGASSAN’s call to action gains momentum, the potential disruption to operations at the refinery looms large, with wider implications for the downstream sectors that rely on this critical facility. Will the government step in to resolve this escalating situation? Only time will tell.