PENGASSAN directs members to withdraw services in protest against Dangote Refinery 

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed its members across the country to withdraw services in protest against what it described as the unlawful dismissal of over 800 of its members by Dangote Refinery.

This was contained in a circular issued after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, September 27, 2025, and signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa.

According to the statement, the union accused the refinery of violating Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organisation conventions by dismissing workers for joining the association.

The union also accused the refinery of promoting unfair labour practices, including hiring foreign workers over Nigerians. It claimed that more than 2,000 Indian nationals had been employed at the facility while Nigerian workers were allegedly sidelined or dismissed.

To press its demands, PENGASSAN directed members in field locations to down tools from Sunday, and ordered a total nationwide shutdown across offices, companies, institutions, and agencies from Monday.

The letter reads in part, “All PENGASSAN members working across 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.

“All 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.

“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.”

In addition, the union maintained that the strike will continue until the dismissed workers are reinstated and also called on the government to intervene.

The NEC further announced 24-hour prayer vigils.

“An injury to one is an injury to all. No man is bigger than our country,” the circular said.