The Federal Government has appealed to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to shelve its planned nationwide strike slated to begin Monday, September 29, 2025, over the ongoing dispute with Dangote Refinery.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, in a statement on Sunday, disclosed that the Ministry has invited both parties to an emergency conciliation meeting in Abuja.
According to a statement signed by the Head of Information and Public Relations of the Ministry, Patience Onuobia, the minister urged PENGASSAN to suspend the strike notice and allow the government to mediate peacefully.
Dingyadi warned that any strike action in the petroleum sector could worsen the hardship already being experienced by Nigerians and have far-reaching consequences on revenue, economic stability, and national security.
“I appeal to both parties to be mindful of the importance of the petroleum sector to the country. A strike will not only lead to heavy revenue losses but also cause more hardship and difficulties for Nigerians,” Dingyadi said.
PENGASSAN’s Position
In a circular issued after its emergency NEC meeting, PENGASSAN directed members to withdraw their services following the alleged mass dismissal of Nigerian workers by Dangote Refinery.
The union accused the refinery of violating labour laws, the Nigerian Constitution, and ILO conventions by sacking workers for joining the association. It further alleged that Dangote Refinery replaced the dismissed workers with “over 2,000 Indians,” describing the move as an affront to Nigerian workers.
The directive mandated members in all field locations to down tools from Sunday, with a total nationwide shutdown across offices, companies, and agencies from Monday.
Dangote Refinery’s Response
Reacting to the allegations, Dangote Refinery stated that the reorganisation leading to the dismissals was aimed at preventing sabotage and ensuring operational safety.
The management explained that repeated acts of internal sabotage had threatened human lives and affected the refinery’s efficiency.
“This exercise is not arbitrary. It has become necessary to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that have raised safety concerns,” the company said in a statement on Friday.
The refinery has been in constant disputes with labour unions over issues relating to workers’ rights, safety standards, and product distribution, sparking growing tension within the sector.
