The Federal Government has stepped into the escalating dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Refinery, summoning both parties to an emergency conciliation meeting scheduled for Monday, September 29, 2025.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Maigari Dingyadi, disclosed the intervention in a statement issued on Sunday. He appealed to the oil workers’ union to suspend its planned nationwide strike, which was expected to commence at 6 a.m. on Sunday, September 28, following a directive to members across all field locations.
According to Dingyadi, the ministry has already dispatched invitations to the leadership of PENGASSAN and management of Dangote Refinery, stressing the importance of dialogue in preventing the dispute from spiraling into a full-blown industrial crisis.
“I appeal to both parties to be mindful of the strategic importance of the petroleum sector to our economy. A strike at this time will not only lead to massive revenue losses but also worsen the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians,” Dingyadi warned. He further noted that the standoff could undermine economic stability and even national security if not carefully managed.
PENGASSAN, in a letter signed by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, accused Dangote Refinery of dismissing more than 800 of its members for joining the union. The union described the move as “a direct attack on workers’ rights and freedom of association,” insisting it contravenes Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and international labour conventions.
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Okugbawa stressed that the sack was “a deliberate attempt to intimidate workers and weaken union activities,” adding that members had been instructed to withdraw their services until management reverses its decision.
The statement from the Labour Ministry, signed by Head of Information and Public Relations, Patience Onuobia, assured that government remains committed to resolving the matter amicably. Dingyadi urged PENGASSAN to rescind its strike order to give room for constructive negotiations in the interest of peace and stability.
The outcome of Monday’s emergency session is expected to determine whether the country’s oil and gas sector will face fresh disruptions at a time of economic strain.
