The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has declared a nationwide strike beginning Monday, September 29, 2025, in response to the alleged unlawful dismissal of over 800 Nigerian workers by the Dangote Refinery.
Following an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Saturday, PENGASSAN issued a directive for all members across field locations, offices, companies, institutions, and agencies to withdraw their services. The strike action commenced with a phased shutdown starting at 6:00 AM on Sunday, culminating in a full nationwide halt from 12:01 AM Monday.
“All PENGASSAN members working across field locations are to withdraw services effective 06:00hrs on Sunday, 28 September 2025, and commence 24-hour prayers,” the circular read. “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.”
The union accused the Dangote Refinery of replacing the dismissed Nigerian workers with over 2,000 foreign nationals, primarily from India, describing the move as a violation of Nigeria’s labour laws and an affront to national dignity. It also ordered the immediate suspension of all crude oil and gas supply to the refinery, instructing International Oil Companies (IOCs) to ramp down production linked to Dangote operations.
PENGASSAN called for urgent government intervention and vowed to continue the strike until the dismissed workers are reinstated. “An injury to one is an injury to all. No man is bigger than our country,” the union stated.
In response, Dangote Refinery management denied the allegations of mass layoffs, stating that the company is undergoing internal reorganization to improve operational efficiency and that the majority of its workforce remains Nigerian.