LAGOS: The Federal Government has waded into the escalating labour dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Refinery, as the union commences a nationwide strike over alleged anti-labour practice.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, confirmed on Sunday that his ministry had initiated moves to bring both parties to the negotiation table to avert further disruptions in the oil and gas sector.
A truce meeting has been scheduled for Monday, September 29, 2025.
“The Ministry has taken steps to engage the parties involved in this matter. We are committed to ensuring the dispute does not escalate further and that industrial harmony is restored, Dingyadi said in a statement.
The intervention comes barely 24 hours after PENGASSAN directed members nationwide to withdraw their services, accusing Dangote Refinery of illegally dismissing Nigerian workers for joining the union and replacing them with over 2,000 Indians.
In a circular signed by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, the union described the move as a violation of Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organisation conventions.
It ordered members in field locations to halt operations from Sunday, while all workers in offices, companies, institutions, and agencies were directed to down tools from Monday.
The action, which includes the suspension of crude and gas supply to Dangote Refinery, is expected to disrupt the facility’s operations significantly unless resolved.
PENGASSAN has also declared 24-hour prayer vigils across its branches, stressing that the strike would continue until all dismissed workers are reinstated.
The dispute adds to ongoing tensions between Dangote Refinery and major oil sector unions, including NUPENG, over labour rights and safety standards.
With Nigeria relying heavily on the refinery’s operations to cut fuel import dependence, analysts warn that prolonged disruptions could trigger supply shocks and worsen market volatility.
