PENGASSAN commences strike after Dangote refinery sacked workers

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has instructed its members to embark on a nationwide strike immediately over Dangote refinery’s dismissal of “over 800 workers”. 

In a statement on Saturday by Lumumba Okugbawa, general secretary, PENGASSAN, the association asked its members working across field locations to stop offering services from 6am on Sunday.

“AlI PENGASSAN members working across field locations are to withdraw services effective 06:00hrs on Sunday, 28 of September, 2025 and commence 24-hour prayers. This includes all control room operations, panel operations, and outfield personnel,” the statement reads.

“AlI 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; such clearance must be obtained from the National Secretariat.”

The association also said all processes that involve gas and crude supply to Dangote refinery “should be let off effectively immediately”.

“All IOC branches must ramp down gas production and supply to Dangote Refinery and petrochemicals,” PENGASSAN added.

“The prayer point should include a call to God Almighty to give courage to those in authority to rein in Dangote and his co-travelers on the need to obey the laws of our country.”

On Friday, the union said the refinery laid off over 800 workers, noting that the group was working to “resolve” the issue.

Subsequently, the Dangote refinery confirmed sacking some workers, saying that “only a small number were affected” in what it described as a reorganisation exercise.

Following the announcement, PENGASSAN urged the management of the refinery “to recall all terminated Nigerian workers”.

Dangote refinery also accused PENGASSAN of attempting to sabotage the country’s energy supply chain following a directive issued by the union to cut off crude oil and gas supplies to the refinery.