The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has announced a nationwide industrial action, directing its members to begin a total withdrawal of services in protest against what it described as the mass dismissal of over 800 Nigerian workers by the Dangote Refinery
In a circular released after an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) on Saturday, September 27, 2025, and signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, the union accused the refinery of serious labour violations, including breaching Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and international labour standards.
According to the NEC, the workers were dismissed for joining PENGASSAN, and their positions were allegedly filled with “over 2,000 Indians,” an action the union described as “an affront to all workers in Nigeria.”
“To press its demands, PENGASSAN directed members in field locations to down tools from Sunday, and ordered a total nationwide shutdown across offices, companies, institutions, and agencies from Monday,” the circular stated.
The letter further outlined the strike directives: “All PENGASSAN members working across field locations are to withdraw services effective 06:00hrs on Sunday, 28 September 2025 and commence 24-hour prayers. This includes all control room operations, panel operations, and outfield personnel.
“All PENGASSAN members across all offices, companies, institutions, and agencies should withdraw all services effective 00:01 on Monday, 29th of September, 2025.
“No intervention whatsoever will be entertained across field locations except where the safety of personnel and assets is at risk; such clearance must be obtained from the National Secretariat.
“All processes that involve gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery should be let off effectively immediately.
“All IOC branches must ramp down gas production and supply to Dangote Refinery and petrochemicals.”
The NEC also called for 24-hour prayer vigils and urged government intervention to resolve the dispute, insisting the strike would continue until all affected workers are reinstated.
“An injury to one is an injury to all. No man is bigger than our country,” the union declared.
The strike stems from a deepening conflict between Dangote Refinery and organised labour, particularly PENGASSAN and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), over alleged violations of labour rights and workplace safety standards.
The crisis escalated after the refinery, in a letter dated September 24, 2025, terminated a number of staff, citing acts of sabotage that allegedly threatened the safety of its 650,000-barrel-per-day operations.
PENGASSAN, however, disputed the company’s narrative, saying the dismissals were retaliatory actions against union membership. The union said it considered the matter one of “urgent national importance” and called on other labour groups, relevant government agencies, and civil society organisations to intervene.
In response, the Dangote Refinery denied carrying out a mass dismissal. The company described the situation as an internal reorganisation aimed at boosting operational efficiency, adding that most of its workforce remains Nigerian.
Despite the company’s assurances, PENGASSAN’s nationwide strike — if fully enforced — is likely to disrupt crude and gas supplies to the refinery, with potential ripple effects across Nigeria’s downstream oil sector.
Observers warn that the unfolding standoff could further strain the country’s fuel supply chain, particularly if the dispute is not resolved quickly
