The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has announced a nationwide industrial action, directing its members to begin a total withdrawal of services in protest against what it described as the mass dismissal of over 800 Nigerian workers by the Dangote Refinery.
In a circular released after an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) on Saturday, September 27, 2025, and signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, the union accused the refinery of serious labour violations, including breaching Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and international labour standards.
According to the NEC, the workers were dismissed for joining PENGASSAN, and their positions were allegedly filled with “over 2,000 Indians,” an action the union described as “an affront to all workers in Nigeria.”
“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 circular stated.
The letter further outlined the strike directives: “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.”
