PENGASSAN begins nationwide strike

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has declared a nationwide strike, directing its members to withdraw services across the country beginning 12:01 a.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025.

The union said the decision was taken at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Saturday, September 27.

In a statement, PENGASSAN directed members in field locations — including control room operators, panel staff, and outfield personnel — to begin pulling out from duty at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 28, ahead of the full industrial action.

The association also announced the commencement of a continuous prayer vigil, calling on God “to compel those in authority to rein in Dangote and his co-travelers on the need to obey Nigeria’s law.”

According to the union, the strike will be total, with no field interventions allowed unless they are necessary for the safety of workers and assets — and even such actions must be cleared by the national secretariat.

Dangote refinery resumes petrol sales in naira after govt intervention

PENGASSAN further instructed that “all processes that involve gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery be let off immediately,” directing international oil company branches to reduce gas production and suspend supply to the refinery and its petrochemicals unit.

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.

“All IOC branches must ramp down gas production and supply to Dangote Refinery and petrochemicals. The prayer point should include a call to God Almighty to give courage to those in authority to rein in Dangote and his co-travelers on the need to obey the laws of our country. No man is bigger than our country, an injury to one is an injury to all.”

The strike follows a deepening dispute between the union and the management of Dangote refinery, which PENGASSAN has accused of disregarding Nigerian labour laws and unfairly replacing local workers with foreign nationals.

The Star