The Federal Government has appealed to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to suspend its planned nationwide strike scheduled to begin on Monday, following the union’s dispute with Dangote Refinery.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, made the call on Sunday, stressing that the government has initiated moves to bring both parties to the table to prevent the crisis from escalating.
In a statement signed by the Head of Information and Public Relations in the Ministry, Patience Onuobia, Dingyadi revealed that invitations have been sent to the leadership of PENGASSAN and the management of Dangote Refinery to attend an emergency conciliation meeting in his office on Monday.
“The Ministry of Labour and Employment through the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations has extended invitations to the leadership of PENGASSAN and the management of Dangote Refinery to attend a conciliation meeting in my office on Monday,” Dingyadi stated.
The Minister urged the union to withdraw its strike notice, warning that an industrial shutdown in the petroleum sector would deal a heavy blow to the country’s economy and deepen hardship for Nigerians.
“I appeal to both parties to be mindful of the importance of the petroleum sector to the country, being the core of her economy. A strike will not only lead to heavy revenue losses but also cause more hardship and difficulties for Nigerians. Consequentially, it will have adverse impacts, both on economic stability and national security,” he added.
He assured both sides that the Federal Government is committed to resolving the matter amicably in the best interest of the nation.
The Dispute
The crisis erupted after PENGASSAN accused Dangote Refinery of sacking Nigerian workers who joined the association, in violation of labour laws, the Nigerian Constitution, and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.
The union alleged that the refinery replaced the dismissed staff with “over 2,000 Indians,” describing the move as “an affront to all workers in Nigeria.”
Following an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Saturday, the union directed its members in field locations to withdraw their services from Sunday, with a nationwide shutdown of offices, companies, institutions, and agencies slated to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Monday.
“All PENGASSAN members across all offices, companies, institutions, and agencies should withdraw all services effective 00:01 on Monday, 29th of September, 2025,” the circular read.
Dangote Refinery’s Response
In its defence, Dangote Refinery denied that the dismissals were arbitrary, insisting that the reorganisation was necessary to address safety concerns and prevent repeated acts of sabotage.
“This exercise is not arbitrary. It has become necessary to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that have raised safety concerns and affected operational efficiency,” the management said in a statement issued Friday.
The company maintained that the decision was in the best interest of its operations, workers, and national safety.
Dangote Refinery has faced a series of disputes with oil and gas unions in recent months, with tensions flaring over labour rights, workplace safety standards, and product distribution.
What you should know
The standoff between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery highlights ongoing tensions between labour unions and the multi-billion-dollar oil facility, Nigeria’s most ambitious industrial project.
While PENGASSAN sees the sackings as a violation of workers’ rights, the refinery insists its reorganisation was vital for safety. The outcome of the Federal Government’s mediation on Monday could determine whether Nigeria faces a nationwide oil sector shutdown.
