The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has ordered its members across the country to withdraw their services immediately, in protest against the dismissal of over 800 workers at the Dangote Refinery.
In a statement released on Saturday, Lumumba Okugbawa, general secretary of PENGASSAN, directed members in all field locations to stop work from 6am on Sunday, September 28, 2025, with operations in control rooms, panels, and outfields to be completely shut down.
“All 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 read.
The union further ordered members in offices, institutions, and agencies to halt work from 12:01am on Monday, September 29, 2025, stressing that “no intervention whatsoever will be entertained across field locations except where the safety of personnel and assets is at risk.”
PENGASSAN also directed that all processes involving the supply of crude oil and gas to Dangote Refinery be suspended with immediate effect. “All IOC branches must ramp down gas production and supply to Dangote Refinery and petrochemicals,” the association said.
The union framed the strike as not only an industrial action but also a spiritual campaign, instructing members to pray for “courage to those in authority to rein in Dangote and his co-travelers on the need to obey the laws of our country.”
The dispute escalated on Friday after PENGASSAN accused the refinery of terminating over 800 Nigerian workers. The union urged the management to reverse the sackings, insisting that the mass layoffs violated labour rights and endangered industrial peace in the oil and gas sector.
The Dangote Refinery, however, pushed back against the accusations, confirming it had dismissed some workers but describing the number affected as “small.” It characterised the move as part of an internal reorganisation exercise and accused PENGASSAN of trying to “sabotage the country’s energy supply chain.”
With crude and gas supplies now threatened by the union’s directive, analysts warn the standoff could disrupt Nigeria’s already fragile energy sector, especially as the $20 billion Dangote Refinery touted as Africa’s largest was expected to play a central role in reducing the nation’s dependence on fuel imports.
As of Saturday evening, there had been no official government intervention to mediate between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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