By Abiola Olawale
In an escalation of tensions in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has announced an indefinite nationwide strike starting Monday, September 29, 2025.
The move comes in response to what the union described as the “unlawful dismissal” of over 800 Nigerian workers at the Dangote Refinery owned by Africa’s richest person, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
PENGASSAN said it issued the strike directive following an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Saturday, September 27.
The order mandated all PENGASSAN members to withdraw services across field locations from 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 28, including control room operations and outfield duties.
This was announced in a circular issued after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, September 27, 2025, and signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa.
“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,” the union said.
“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.”
This comes after the union had accused Dangote refinery of allegedly violating Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organisation conventions by dismissing workers for joining the association.
It alleged the refinery had replaced the dismissed staff with “over 2,000 Indians,” calling the action “an affront to all workers in Nigeria.”
