The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed its members to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike following the dismissal of what it claimed were “over 800 workers” by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the union’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, ordered members in field locations to withdraw their services from 6 a.m. on Sunday, 28 September 2025. Those in offices, companies, institutions and agencies are to down tools from 12:01 a.m. on Monday.
“All PENGASSAN members working in 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 statement read.
The association further directed that all processes involving crude oil and gas supply to the Dangote refinery be halted immediately. It also instructed International Oil Companies (IOCs) to reduce gas production and suspend supplies to the facility.
“The prayer point should include a call to God Almighty to give courage to those in authority to rein in Dangote and his co-travellers on the need to obey the laws of our country,” the union added.
The industrial action follows PENGASSAN’s earlier condemnation of the refinery’s alleged dismissal of more than 800 Nigerian workers. The union had urged the refinery’s management to recall all affected employees.
While confirming that some staff had been laid off, the Dangote refinery insisted that “only a small number were affected” in what it described as a routine reorganisation exercise. It also accused PENGASSAN of attempting to sabotage Nigeria’s energy supply chain by directing crude and gas suppliers to suspend deliveries to its operations.
The strike has raised concerns over potential disruptions in the country’s energy sector, coming just weeks after the refinery announced the deployment of compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks, which it said would create tens of thousands of jobs.
