The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has launched a nationwide strike after Dangote Petroleum Refinery dismissed more than 800 Nigerian workers. The union described the mass layoff as a violation of labour rights and constitutional protections. The strike, which began on September 28, has seen union members withdraw services across offices, field locations and oil and gas regulatory agencies, Reuters reported.
Dangote Refinery said the dismissals were part of an internal reorganisation to address operational inefficiencies and alleged acts of sabotage. The company also obtained a court order barring the union from obstructing crude and gas supply, although PENGASSAN argued that the order was not validly served. The Associated Press noted that government mediation efforts have so far failed to resolve the dispute.
“Court orders are served via bailiffs, not through social media,” said Lumumba Okugbawa, General Secretary of PENGASSAN, who insisted the union would continue its protest until the affected workers were reinstated. His comments highlight the deepening rift between the refinery’s management and the labour body over the terms of employment and the legitimacy of the dismissals.
The strike has shut the offices of key regulators including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. Analysts warn that prolonged industrial action could disrupt oil production, trade and fuel supply, raising broader concerns about the stability of Nigeria’s energy sector and investor confidence.
