The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has ordered its members nationwide to embark on a strike following the alleged mass dismissal of Nigerian workers by Dangote Refinery.
The directive was contained in a circular issued after an emergency National Executive Council meeting held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, and signed by the union’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa.
PENGASSAN accused Dangote Refinery of violating Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions by sacking employees who joined the association. It further alleged that the company replaced the affected workers with “over 2,000 Indians,” describing the move as an affront to Nigerian workers.
The union directed members in field locations to withdraw their services beginning Sunday, September 28, with a total nationwide shutdown across offices, companies, institutions, and agencies to commence on Monday, September 29.
“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,” the circular read.
It further stated: “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, with clearance obtained from the National Secretariat.”
The union also directed international oil company (IOC) branches to ramp down gas production and halt supply to Dangote Refinery and its petrochemical units with immediate effect.
In addition, PENGASSAN declared a nationwide 24-hour prayer vigil and called for government intervention, vowing that the strike would continue until all dismissed workers are reinstated.
“An injury to one is an injury to all. No man is bigger than our country,” the circular added.
The development comes amid recent clashes between Dangote Refinery and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over labour rights and safety standards.
