The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed all its members to commence a nationwide strike starting Monday, September 29, 2025, in response to the dismissal of over 800 workers by Dangote Refinery.
PENGASSAN condemned the recent mass sack of Nigerian employees at Dangote Refinery as a gross violation of labor rights and a dangerous precedent. In a strongly worded statement, the union accused the refinery of terminating Nigerian workers simply for joining PENGASSAN and replacing them with over 2,000 foreign nationals, describing this act as tantamount to the “enslavement of Nigerian workers.”
The National Executive Council of PENGASSAN ordered members across oil companies, institutions, and agencies to withdraw all services starting at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025. The strike action will involve shutting down control room and panel operations, as well as ramping down crude oil and gas supplies to the Dangote Refinery. PENGASSAN leaders have also urged members to hold night vigils as the strike begins.
“All PENGASSAN members in all offices, companies, institutions, and agencies must cease all services effective 00:01 on Monday, September 29, 2025,” the statement read.
Additionally, all branches of International Oil Companies (IOCs) have been instructed to reduce gas production and supply to Dangote Refinery and its petrochemical operations.
The union further called for a collective prayer, asking God Almighty to grant courage to those in authority to restrain Dangote and his associates and enforce compliance with Nigeria’s laws. “No individual is bigger than our country. An injury to one is an injury to all,” the statement emphasized.
