The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called off its nationwide strike following high-level negotiations with the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the management of Dangote Refinery.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, at a press briefing in Abuja, where he confirmed the suspension of the industrial action, although he noted that “grey areas” in the agreement still exist.
“We’re standing down the strike in good faith, but if the terms are not honoured, we will not hesitate to resume action without notice,” Osifo warned.
Strike Ends, But Tensions Remain
While the strike has been suspended, the union expressed concerns over lingering ambiguities in the communiqué signed by both parties. Despite the unresolved issues, Osifo said the union chose to give the government and refinery management the benefit of the doubt.
The dispute centered on allegations of mass termination of over 800 Nigerian staff and their replacement with foreign workers, claims the refinery has denied.
Earlier, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, confirmed that the dispute had been resolved after several conciliation meetings.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry:
- The 800 disengaged workers will be redeployed within the Dangote Group with no loss of pay.
- No employee will face reprisals for participating in the industrial dispute.
- The right to unionise, as protected under Nigerian labour law, must be upheld.
“Both parties have agreed in good faith, and we expect full compliance,” Dingyadi added.
How the Crisis Escalated
The standoff between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery escalated earlier this week, when protesters:
- Barricaded the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) headquarters in Abuja
- Blocked access to regulatory offices in the downstream, upstream, and midstream petroleum sectors
- Accused the refinery of replacing Nigerian workers with over 2,000 foreign staff (mainly Indians)
Protesters chanted solidarity songs and carried placards condemning what they described as a violation of labour rights and ILO conventions.
In a parallel development, the National Industrial Court issued an interim injunction on Monday, restraining PENGASSAN from continuing the strike.
Presiding Judge Justice Emmanuel Subilim ruled that any disruption to the refinery operations could cause “irreparable economic harm.” The case was adjourned to October 13, 2025, for further hearing.
Dangote Refinery Responds
In its defence, the Dangote Refinery, commissioned in May 2023, denied claims of mass layoffs, insisting the restructuring affected only a small fraction of its 3,000 Nigerian workforce.
“These changes were based on safety and operational efficiency. No law permits a union to cut off fuel or gas supply in protest,” the company said, labelling the union’s actions as “criminal.”
The refinery also warned that supply disruptions could hurt fuel availability and national revenues.
Union Holds Ground
Despite calling off the strike, PENGASSAN has vowed to remain on alert. The union insists it will resume the industrial action without further notice if the Dangote Group fails to implement the terms of the agreement.
Backing PENGASSAN, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) declared full solidarity with the affected workers.
“No corporation no matter how powerful will be allowed to trample on the rights of Nigerian workers,” said TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro.
While the immediate strike threat has been averted, the episode has raised broader concerns about worker rights, corporate accountability, and labour relations in Nigeria’s fast-growing energy sector.
Both the federal government and industry players will be watching closely in the days ahead to see whether the terms of this fragile truce are upheld or if another round of industrial unrest is looming.
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