PENGASSAN Orders Nationwide Withdrawal of Services Over Sack of Dangote Refinery Workers
A nationwide strike has been called by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to protest the alleged mass dismissal of over 800 Nigerian workers by Dangote Refinery.
The union claims the refinery violated Nigeria’s labour laws, constitution, and International Labour Organisation conventions by sacking workers for joining the association.
PENGASSAN accuses the refinery of unfair labour practices, citing the replacement of Nigerian workers with over 2,000 Indian nationals as discriminatory.
The union also claims the refinery’s actions are a direct attack on workers’ rights guaranteed by Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution.
The strike, which began on Sunday, September 28, 2025, may disrupt crude oil and gas supplies to the refinery, potentially impacting downstream operations and fuel availability nationwide. PENGASSAN has appealed for government intervention, warning that the strike will continue until the dismissed workers are reinstated.
In response, Dangote Refinery claims the dismissals were part of a restructuring effort to improve efficiency and prevent sabotage.
Management insists that only a small number of workers were affected, with over 3,000 Nigerians remaining employed at the facility.
The dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between labour unions and employers in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
