The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has announced a nationwide strike beginning Monday, September 29, 2025, in response to the alleged termination of over 800 Nigerian workers by Dangote Refinery.
In a circular released following an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, and signed by the association’s General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, the union condemned the mass dismissal, describing it as a violation of Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.
According to PENGASSAN, the affected employees were sacked for exercising their right to unionize. The union further alleged that the refinery has since replaced the dismissed Nigerian workers with over 2,000 expatriates from India—a move it described as “an affront to Nigerian workers” and a threat to national labour standards.
Strike Directives
To escalate its protest, PENGASSAN issued directives to its members across all operational sectors:
Field locations: Members are instructed to withdraw their services from 06:00 hours on Sunday, September 28, 2025, and commence 24-hour prayer vigils.
Nationwide offices and agencies: A total service withdrawal is to begin at 00:01 hours on Monday, September 29, 2025.
Gas and crude supply: All processes involving the supply of gas and crude oil to Dangote Refinery are to be halted with immediate effect.
International Oil Companies (IOCs): All IOC branches are directed to ramp down gas production and suspend supply to Dangote Refinery and its petrochemical subsidiaries.
The circular stated that no exceptions will be made, except in cases where safety of personnel or assets may be compromised. In such instances, clearance must be obtained from the PENGASSAN National Secretariat.
Calls for Intervention
The NEC has appealed for immediate government intervention and warned that the industrial action will continue until all dismissed workers are reinstated.
“An injury to one is an injury to all. No individual is greater than our country,” the statement declared.
The union emphasized that the strike is being carried out in defense of workers’ constitutional rights and in protest of what it views as discriminatory employment practices by the Dangote Group.
Background and Ongoing Dispute
The Dangote Refinery has recently faced increasing scrutiny over its labour practices, particularly following its ongoing dispute with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) concerning worker rights and operational safety.
The latest conflict reportedly stems from a letter issued by the refinery on September 24, 2025, in which it accused several employees of sabotage and dismissed them on grounds that their actions posed risks to the refinery’s operations. The $20 billion facility, which has a processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is one of the largest in Africa.
While PENGASSAN claims approximately 800 Nigerian workers were affected, the refinery’s management has defended the move, stating it was part of an internal restructuring exercise aimed at improving operational efficiency. The company maintains that the majority of its workforce remains Nigerian.
Potential Impact
If the strike is fully implemented, it could significantly disrupt crude and gas supplies to the Dangote Refinery, with potential ripple effects across Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
PENGASSAN has called on all labour unions, relevant government agencies, and industry stakeholders to treat the matter as one of urgent national importance and to act swiftly to prevent further escalation.
