JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
The Nigerian Senior Oil and Gas Staff Association (Pengassan) has announced the national industrial action, directing its members to start withdrawing total services of what is described as a mass dismissal of more than 800 Nigerian workers with dangote refineries.
In a circular released after the Emergency Meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) on Saturday, September 27, 2025, and was signed by the Secretary General Lumumba Okugbawa, the union accused the refineries of serious workforce violations, including violating Nigerian Labor Laws, Constitution, and International Workers Standards.
According to NEC, the workers were dismissed for joining the passage, and their position was allegedly filled with “more than 2,000 Indians,” an action described by the union as “insult to all workers in Nigeria.”
“To reduce his demands, Pengassan directs members at the field location to reduce tools from Sunday, and order a total national shutdown in all offices, companies, institutions and institutions from Monday,” said the circular.
The letter further outlines the direction of the strike: “All members of the passing work in all field locations are to attract effective services 06: 00 hours on Sunday, September 28, 2025 and start a 24 -hour prayer. This includes all operation of the control room, panel operations, and outfield personnel.
“All members of the passage in all offices, companies, institutions and institutions must withdraw all effective services 00:01 on Monday, September 29, 2025.
“There is no intervention that will be entertained in all field locations unless the safety of personnel and risk assets; the permit must be obtained from the National Secretariat.
“All processes involving gas and raw supply to the dangote refinery must be immediately released effectively.
“All IOC branches must reduce the production and supply of gas to the refinery and petrochemicals.”
Also read: The Nigerian government intervenes to prevent the fuel crisis, resolve dangote refinery disputes
NEC also called for a 24 -hour prayer vigil and urged government intervention to resolve disputes, insisting strikes will continue until all affected workers are restored.
“Injury to one is an injury for everyone. There is no one who is bigger than our country,” said the Uni.
The strike came from a deeper conflict between the dangote refinery and organized labor, especially the Pengassan and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (Nupeng), for alleged violations of labor rights and safety standards at work.
The crisis increased after the refinery, in a letter dated September 24, 2025, ended a number of staff, quoting the actions of sabotage allegedly threatening the safety of 650,000 barrels per day.
Pengassan, however, denied the company’s narration, said that the dismissal was an act of retaliation against the membership of the trade union. The union said that they considered the problem as an “urgent national interest” and asked other labor groups, relevant government agencies, and civil society organizations for interference.
In response, the Dangote refinery denied mass dismissal. The company describes the situation as an internal reorganization aimed at increasing operational efficiency, adding that most of their workforce remains Nigerians.
Apart from the company’s guarantee, the National Pengassan attack – if fully upheld – is likely to disrupt the supply of raw and gas to the refinery, with the potential ripple effect in the downstream Nigerian oil sector.
Observers warn that the ongoing deadlock can then suppress the country’s fuel supply chain, especially if the dispute is not resolved quickly.
