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PENGASSAN accuses refinery of replacing Nigerians with over 2,000 foreigners
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Orders shutdown of oil, gas supply to Dangote Refinery from Monday midnight
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IOCs asked to ramp down production linked to the facility
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has declared a nationwide strike in protest against the alleged mass sack of more than 800 Nigerian workers by Dangote Refinery.
The union’s National Executive Council (NEC) resolved after an emergency meeting on Saturday, September 27, 2025, to withdraw members’ services across all offices, companies, and field locations beginning Sunday, with a full shutdown to take effect from 12:01 a.m. Monday, September 29.
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Union Accuses Dangote Refinery
In a circular signed by its General Secretary, Mr Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN accused the refinery of unfair labour practices, including the replacement of Nigerian engineers and staff with more than 2,000 foreign workers.
“The sack of Nigerians and their replacement with foreigners is disloyal to a country that has given the refinery unprecedented incentives at taxpayers’ expense,” the statement read.
The union also alleged that the refinery targeted workers for joining PENGASSAN, in violation of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and international labour standards.
Shutdown Directives
To enforce its decision, PENGASSAN ordered:
Immediate suspension of crude oil and gas supply to Dangote Refinery and its petrochemical operations.
IOCs to begin ramping down gas production linked to the refinery.
Nationwide shutdown by members in all oil and gas companies from Monday.
The union further declared 24-hour prayers and called on government authorities to intervene, warning that “an injury to one is an injury to all. No man is bigger than our country.”
Dangote Denies Mass Sack
Sources at Dangote Refinery, however, dismissed the union’s claims as exaggerated. The management maintained that no mass retrenchment had occurred, describing the situation as an internal reorganisation aimed at improving efficiency.
The company insisted that Nigerians still make up the majority of its workforce, contrary to the union’s allegations.
Wider Labour Concerns
In a petition addressed to PENGASSAN’s Lagos Zonal Chairman, the refinery branch of the union alleged that Nigerian engineers were redeployed to other Dangote subsidiaries in punitive transfers.
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The petition, signed by Branch Chairman Abdulfatai Muhammed and Secretary Eseoghene Choice, also accused the refinery of:
Poor working conditions with inadequate protective gear.
No hazard allowance, health insurance, or compensation.
Expatriates occupying top management roles in breach of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010.
The union further criticised the refinery’s decision to sell petrol exclusively in dollars, warning that the policy could weaken the naira, trigger inflation, and undermine energy security.
PENGASSAN vowed the strike would continue until all sacked workers are reinstated and the refinery complies with Nigeria’s labour laws.
