LAGOS: The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has ordered an indefinite nationwide strike following the alleged dismissal of Nigerian workers at Dangote Refinery.
In a circular released after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Saturday, September 27, 2025, and signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, the union accused the refinery of breaching Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.
According to PENGASSAN, the refinery sacked employees for joining the association and allegedly replaced them with “over 2,000 Indians,” describing the action as “an affront to Nigerian workers.”
The directive mandates members in field operations to down tools from Sunday, September 28, 2025, while a full-scale nationwide shutdown across all companies, offices, institutions, and agencies is set to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, September 29.
All control room operations, panel operations, and outfield activities are to cease immediately. No intervention will be entertained except where personnel safety or asset security is at risk and only with clearance from the National Secretariat,” the circular stated.
The union also ordered the suspension of all gas and crude oil supply to Dangote Refinery, directing International Oil Companies (IOCs) to cut production linked to the facility.
PENGASSAN announced 24-hour prayer vigils and urged government intervention, stressing that the strike would continue until the dismissed workers are reinstated.
An injury to one is an injury to all. No man is bigger than our country,” the statement added.
The development comes amid ongoing disputes between Dangote Refinery and labour unions, including the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), over workers’ rights and safety standards.
