Members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Monday barricaded the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in Abuja, as well as the offices of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), in compliance with a nationwide strike directive from its national executive committee.
The union members, chanting solidarity songs, are protesting the alleged illegal dismissal of over 800 Nigerian workers by the management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. They accused the refinery of violating Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organisation conventions by sacking workers for joining the association.
PENGASSAN also alleged that the refinery replaced the dismissed workers with “over 2,000 Indians,” calling the action “an affront to all workers in Nigeria.”
In a circular issued after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, September 27, 2025, and signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, the union directed:
- All members working in field locations to withdraw services effective 06:00 hrs on Sunday, September 28, and commence 24-hour prayers, including all control room, panel, and outfield operations.
- All members across offices, companies, institutions, and agencies to withdraw services effective 00:01 on Monday, September 29, 2025.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery last week defended the reorganisation that led to the dismissals, saying it was aimed at preventing sabotage, addressing safety concerns, and boosting operational efficiency.
