PENGASSAN Declares Nationwide Strike Over Alleged Mass Dismissal of Workers by Dangote Refinery

In a dramatic escalation of industrial tensions, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has announced a nationwide strike against the Dangote Refinery. The action follows allegations that the refinery has unlawfully dismissed over 800 Nigerian workers, replacing them with foreign nationals, primarily from India. This development marks a significant turning point in the ongoing dispute between Nigeria’s largest labour unions and Africa’s largest privately-owned refinery.

According to a circular issued after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Saturday, September 27, 2025, PENGASSAN accused the Dangote Refinery of violating Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. The circular was signed by the association’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa.

In a strongly worded letter, PENGASSAN directed all its members in field locations to withdraw their services starting from 06:00 hrs on Sunday, 28 September 2025. This directive covers all control room operations, panel operations, and outfield personnel. Furthermore, from 00:01 on Monday, 29 September 2025, the association ordered a total nationwide shutdown across all offices, companies, institutions, and agencies.

The NEC also mandated that “all processes involving gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery should be let off immediately.” In other words, International Oil Company (IOC) branches must ramp down gas production and supply to Dangote Refinery and its petrochemical operations.

PENGASSAN clarified that no intervention will be entertained across field locations “except where the safety of personnel and assets is at risk,” and such clearance must come directly from the National Secretariat.

In a show of solidarity and faith, PENGASSAN also called for 24-hour prayer vigils across its branches nationwide. The association’s message resonated with the theme of unity: “An injury to one is an injury to all. No man is bigger than our country,” the circular declared.

The strike, PENGASSAN emphasized, will continue indefinitely until the dismissed workers are reinstated and the refinery complies with Nigeria’s labour laws and international conventions on workers’ rights.

Tensions between Dangote Refinery and Nigeria’s labour unions have been building for months. The immediate trigger for the strike appears to be a letter dated September 24, 2025, in which the refinery reportedly ordered the sacking of some staff over alleged sabotage that it said threatened the operational safety of the facility.

PENGASSAN, however, has put the number of sacked staff at around 800, dismissing the company’s claims and accusing it of using “sabotage” as a pretext for union busting. The association described the issue as one of “urgent national importance” and called on the Nigerian government, labour unions, and other stakeholders to intervene.

The Dangote Group has denied accusations of mass sacking, stating that the company is merely conducting an “internal reorganisation to improve efficiency.” In a press release, the refinery maintained that “the majority of its workforce remains Nigerian” and dismissed claims that it had hired thousands of foreign workers to replace locals.

Management also stressed that the refinery continues to uphold high labour and safety standards in line with international best practices and accused the unions of misrepresenting the facts to the public.

The Dangote Refinery is a critical infrastructure project for Nigeria, designed to process 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Any disruption to its operations, especially one stemming from a nationwide strike, could have far-reaching consequences for the country’s oil and gas supply chain, downstream operations, and foreign exchange earnings.

Labour experts warn that if the strike is fully observed, it could significantly impact not only fuel supply and distribution but also investor confidence in Nigeria’s energy sector. As the country continues to battle economic challenges, including inflation and unemployment, such disruptions risk compounding the problems.

PENGASSAN has appealed for government intervention at the highest levels, urging the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and other relevant agencies to mediate between the union and Dangote Refinery. The association insists that the reinstatement of the dismissed workers is non-negotiable and must precede any meaningful dialogue.

Labour watchers also argue that this dispute offers the Nigerian government an opportunity to reinforce its commitment to workers’ rights, unionisation, and the enforcement of local content policies in strategic sectors like oil and gas.

The ongoing face-off between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery underscores the fragile relationship between big business and organised labour in Nigeria. With PENGASSAN’s nationwide strike set to begin on Monday, the stakes are high for both sides — and for the country at large. The coming days will reveal whether dialogue or confrontation will define the next chapter of this dispute.

For Nigerians, this is more than just a labour issue. It is a test of how far the country has come in protecting the rights of its workers while balancing the needs of investors and economic growth. As the strike looms, the nation watches and waits.