By Peace Udugba
PENGASSAN Orders Nationwide Strike Over Alleged Unlawful Sack of 800 Workers by Dangote Refinery.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed its members nationwide to withdraw their services in protest against the alleged unlawful dismissal of over 800 members by Dangote Refinery.
In a circular issued after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, September 27, 2025, and signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, the union accused the refinery of violating Nigerian labour laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions by sacking workers for joining the union.
PENGASSAN also alleged unfair labour practices, including preference for foreign workers over Nigerians. It claimed over 2,000 Indian nationals were employed at the refinery while Nigerians were sidelined or dismissed.
As part of its action, the union ordered members in field locations to down tools starting Sunday, with a full nationwide shutdown across offices, companies, institutions, and agencies set to begin Monday.
PENGASSAN Orders Total Shutdown, Prayer Vigils Over Dangote Refinery Sack — Demands Reinstatement of 800 Workers.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has escalated its protest against Dangote Refinery, ordering a total nationwide shutdown of services and 24-hour prayer vigils, following the alleged unlawful dismissal of over 800 union members.
In a circular signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa after an emergency NEC meeting, the union directed:
– All members in field locations to withdraw services by 06:00hrs, Sunday, 28 September 2025, including control room, panel, and outfield operations,
– A full nationwide withdrawal of services by all members in offices, companies, institutions, and agencies from 00:01hrs, Monday, 29 September 2025,
– All gas and crude supply processes to Dangote Refinery be shut down immediately.
– IOCs to ramp down gas production to the refinery and petrochemicals.
The union emphasized that no operations should continue, except for critical safety issues approved by the National Secretariat.
The strike, according to PENGASSAN, will continue until the sacked workers are reinstated, urging the federal government to intervene.
The union closed with a firm declaration:
“An injury to one is an injury to all. No man is bigger than our country”.
