Dangote Refinery Faces Shutdown As Oil Workers Begin Strike Monday

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has declared a nationwide strike following the alleged dismissal of more than 800 Nigerian workers by Dangote Refinery.

In a circular issued after an emergency NEC meeting on Saturday and signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, the union accused the refinery of sacking workers for joining PENGASSAN, in violation of Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and ILO conventions.

The union further alleged that the refinery had replaced the dismissed workers with over 2,000 Indians, describing the move as “an affront to Nigerian workers.”

PENGASSAN directed members in field locations to withdraw their services from 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, with a total nationwide shutdown of operations in offices, companies, institutions, and agencies beginning Monday.

The circular ordered members to suspend all control room operations, panel duties, outfield activities, and crude or gas supply to Dangote Refinery. It added that only safety-related interventions would be allowed with clearance from the National Secretariat.

“All IOC branches must ramp down gas production and supply to Dangote Refinery and petrochemicals. No man is bigger than our country. An injury to one is an injury to all,” the circular stated.

The union insisted the strike would continue until all dismissed workers were reinstated, urging government and stakeholders to intervene.

The refinery, however, denied carrying out mass dismissals, saying it was undergoing internal restructuring to improve efficiency. Management maintained that the majority of its workforce remained Nigerian.

The dispute adds to ongoing tensions between Dangote Refinery and oil sector unions, raising concerns over possible disruption of crude and gas supplies to the 650,000-barrel-per-day plant and its downstream operations.