The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to wade into the ongoing dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery, a conflict that has disrupted fuel distribution across the country.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance, jointly sponsored by Alhassan Ado Doguwa (Kano) and Abdussamad Dasuki (Sokoto) during plenary.
The lawmakers raised concerns over the impact of the industrial action, which began on September 29, 2025, and led to a significant slowdown in operations at Africa’s largest privately owned refinery, reportedly causing a production loss of over 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day for three consecutive days.
The ripple effects were quickly felt nationwide, as fuel shortages worsened and long queues re-emerged at filling stations, plunging millions of Nigerians into hardship.
Dangote Refinery “Too Strategic to Fail” – Lawmakers Warn
Speaking on the motion, Doguwa, who represents Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency in Kano State, underscored the critical importance of the $20 billion Dangote Refinery to Nigeria’s energy security and economic stability.
“The Dangote Refinery is a landmark private investment with the potential to reduce Nigeria’s import dependence, create jobs, save foreign exchange, and guarantee fuel sufficiency,” Doguwa stated.
He noted that the refinery operates within a Free Trade Zone and is therefore subject to the regulatory oversight of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), not conventional labour laws.
Quoting Section 18(5) of the NEPZA Act, Doguwa stressed that employment matters within Free Zones are governed solely by NEPZA regulations and not by any other labour enactments.
“Union actions that violate this legal framework not only breach the law but also threaten the confidence of local and foreign investors who may view Nigeria as hostile to private enterprise,” he added.
Caution Over Timing of Probe
In his contribution, Ahmad Jaha, representing Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency, urged the House to proceed with caution, suggesting that initiating a formal investigation at this time may not be appropriate and could inflame tensions.
House Resolutions: Reconciliation, Policy Safeguards, Legal Enforcement
After extensive deliberation, the House adopted the motion and resolved to:
- Mandate the House leadership to mediate between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Group to restore operations and avert further disruptions.
- Urge the Federal Ministries of Labour, Industry, Justice, and Trade and Investment to jointly develop a national framework to protect private investments of strategic importance from adversarial or unlawful union actions.
- Direct the Federal Ministry of Justice and NEPZA to enforce full compliance with the NEPZA Act across all Free Zones in the country.
Lawmakers emphasized that while labour rights must be respected, there must also be clear legal boundaries especially when national economic assets are at stake.
The Dangote Refinery, which began operations earlier this year, is expected to play a key role in Nigeria’s long-term fuel independence strategy, refining up to 650,000 barrels per day at full capacity.
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