Reports emerged yesterday indicating that the federal government is making urgent efforts to mediate in the disagreement between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN concerning the alleged mass dismissal of union members and their replacement with Indian nationals.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, has already appealed to PENGASSAN to suspend the strike, which commenced yesterday.
As a result, members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, are reportedly unable to carry out product lifting or deliver other services due to the industrial action.
In its immediate response to the strike last night, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery criticised PENGASSAN, accusing the union of undermining Nigeria’s oil and gas industry for decades and prioritising the personal interests of its leaders over those of the general public.
According to sources, “because of the withdrawal of services by PENGASSAN, NUPENG members have been rendered redundant as all files, documents and approvals needed to facilitate their jobs were not released. So, NUPENG members are practically doing nothing because of the ongoing strike.”
PENGASSAN reiterated yesterday that the strike would only end if all members allegedly dismissed by Dangote for joining the union are unconditionally reinstated. The union also urged the federal government to intervene and halt the replacement of Nigerian workers with Indian personnel.
The Minister has reportedly made comprehensive arrangements to persuade both parties to lay down their differences in the interest of peace.
A senior government official stated that representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Employment are examining the contentious matters to reach a peaceful agreement.
The source disclosed, “The ministry is talking with the Dangote Refinery and the leadership of PENGASSAN and, from the discussions, there is no alternative to peace.”
Meanwhile, Dingyadi urged PENGASSAN to call off the strike, revealing that invitations had been sent to both parties for an emergency meeting in his office today to facilitate reconciliation.
He called on PENGASSAN to rescind the strike declaration to enable a peaceful resolution.
In a statement signed by Patience Onuobia, Head of Information and Public Relations, the minister stated: “The Ministry of Labour and Employment, through the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations, has invited both PENGASSAN and the management of Dangote Refinery to a conciliation meeting in my office on Monday (today).
“I appeal to both parties to be mindful of the importance of the petroleum sector to the country, being the core of our economy. A strike will not only lead to heavy revenue losses but also cause hardship for Nigerians. It will adversely affect economic stability and national security.”
PENGASSAN, which on Saturday instructed its members nationwide to stop work following the alleged mass dismissal of over 800 Nigerian workers at the refinery, maintained that the strike would not end unless all affected members, including engineers who were either sacked or reassigned, are reinstated without conditions.
The union had earlier ordered its members to halt gas and crude oil supply to the refinery in protest of the alleged victimisation of unionised workers.
General Secretary of PENGASSAN, Lumumba Okugbawa, said: “The government should be talking to the management of Dangote Refinery to recall our members sacked or transferred and replaced by Indians. We have made it abundantly clear that only the unconditional recall of our members, including engineers, will end the strike.
“Freedom of association and unionism is a right, not a privilege, recognised locally and internationally. As you are aware, all field operations have been directed to withdraw services from 6 a.m. today (yesterday). Crude oil lifting terminals, NLNG operations, oil and gas production platforms, logistics bases, marine bases and other facilities have complied.”
Some PENGASSAN leaders cautioned that “what Dangote is doing will become a template for other industry players if allowed to fly. We will ensure a full shutdown of gas and crude by Monday (today). But only 25% was achieved as soldiers were all over the place chasing out our members.”
It was reported that the NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company, NGIC, withdrew all unionised staff to weaken the strike.
PENGASSAN sources disclosed that “four Hilux trucks of soldiers arrested our members Saturday night but released them Sunday morning.”
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has also instructed its members across the country to prepare to join the strike, voicing full support for PENGASSAN.
In a statement, TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, remarked: “The TUC strongly condemns the anti-worker actions of Dangote Refinery, particularly the unjust termination of workers for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of association and unionisation.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of all affected workers, a public apology from Dangote management, with firm assurances against future victimisation, and an independent investigation involving the Ministry of Labour, ILO, and stakeholders into the refinery’s labour practices.
“Congress, hereby, places all affiliates on stand-by for a national industrial action if Dangote management fails to comply. No corporation, regardless of size or wealth, will be allowed to trample on the dignity and rights of Nigerian workers.”
The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, while intervening yesterday, called on both parties to settle their dispute through dialogue to avoid disruptions to the country’s energy supply.
Komolafe noted that although the matter falls under midstream and downstream operations, the implications are serious, saying “we believe these are issues that parties can sit down, discuss and resolve amicably for the good of the country.”
He also mentioned improvements in curbing crude oil losses, citing a 90 percent reduction since 2021 due to stronger regulations and enhanced security measures.
NUPENG has also expressed concern about individuals presenting themselves as “elders” of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, division.
In a joint statement, NUPENG President, Prince Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, labelled the group “fraudsters” and urged the public to disregard their activities.
They emphasised that the only legally recognised leadership of PTD is under Comrade Augustine Egbon and called on law enforcement to apprehend and prosecute the impersonators.
The NUPENG leadership stated that no such group exists within its official structure and warned the public and media to ignore their claims.
The statement read: “It has come to our attention that these unscrupulous elements are operating under the non-existent and illegitimate banner of ‘PTD Elders’ or ‘PTD Leaders’ in an attempt to deceive, mislead, and create confusion within the oil and gas industry and the wider public.
“We state categorically that these individuals are paid agents of unconscionable capitalists, who amassed filthy wealth by denying workers their rights to freedom of association and unionism. Their mission is to blackmail, misinform, and destabilise NUPENG and the PTD branch.
“For the record, the struggle by these capitalists and their agents to control and destroy the soul of NUPENG and its PTD branch did not start today. They have, however, consistently failed in their evil machinations due to the vigilance and resilience of our committed members and leaders.
“You may recall the brutal and vicious attacks on the leadership of NUPENG in Abuja on November 1, 2023, for which the perpetrators are currently facing criminal charges at the FCT High Court. The present smear campaign and impersonation are simply a continuation of those failed plots.
“It is also important to note that NUPENG has been sued by Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE, MRS Oil Nigeria Limited and MRS Oil & Gas Company Limited in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/279/2025.
“As is our inalienable right, NUPENG has engaged a legal team led by Femi Falana, SAN, to represent the union. Paid agents of employers have no authority to dictate to NUPENG who should or should not defend it in court.
“NUPENG wishes to state emphatically that the only recognised and constitutionally elected leadership of the PTD Branch is the Executive led by Comrade Augustine Egbon as National Chairman.
“There is no known or recognised group within PTD-NUPENG called ‘PTD Elders’ or ‘PTD Leaders.’ Any such claim is fraudulent, illegitimate, and criminal.
‘’The general public and media are advised to disregard any communication, directive, or request from persons claiming to represent “PTD Elders.” Do not engage with them.
“All legitimate engagements with the PTD branch must be conducted only through the recognised office of Augustine Egbon.
“We call on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, DSS, and other relevant security agencies to treat these impersonators as criminals. We demand their immediate arrest, prosecution, and punishment in accordance with the law.
“This statement serves as a final warning to these faceless individuals: to cease and desist from your illegal activities immediately. NUPENG will not hesitate to deploy every legal and industrial measure necessary to defend the integrity of our union and protect the interests of our members and the Nigerian public.”
The Concerned Nigerian Consumers Forum has also raised alarm over what it termed PENGASSAN’s desperate attempts to destabilise Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
According to the forum, PENGASSAN’s actions could cause national disruption, potentially plunging the country back into fuel scarcity and economic difficulty.
This was disclosed during a press briefing in Abuja jointly addressed by Comrade Olabisi Taiwo and Dr. Justice Akani Alikor, President and Secretary, respectively.
The group expressed worry that the union’s threat was an attempt to sabotage the country’s economic progress.
Referring to PENGASSAN’s past, the forum alleged: “PENGASSAN, alongside NUPENG, played a significant role in the collapse of Nigeria’s public refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna.
“They resisted reforms, blocked privatisation, and crippled fuel supply with strikes. Their actions contributed to the rot that turned these refineries into relics of corruption and mismanagement.
“The Dangote Refinery, the world’s largest single-train refinery with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is a private initiative designed to end Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel, stabilise prices and create jobs.”
The forum insisted that the refinery, which has employed over 3,000 Nigerians and continues to recruit, is not anti-labour but is focused on safety and efficiency.
It also condemned PENGASSAN’s decision to picket the refinery despite an existing court order against such industrial action, labelling it “union overreach” and a breach of the rule of law.
The forum further criticised inflammatory comments by the union, including a metaphorical reference to “a witch crying in the night”, describing such remarks as divisive and irresponsible.
“Who benefits if the refinery fails? Certainly not the Nigerian people, but fuel importers and rent seekers who profit from chaos,” the forum stated.
It urged PENGASSAN to pursue dialogue, honour court rulings, and place national interest above “irresponsible unionism.”
It further appealed to the Ministries of Labour, Petroleum Resources, and Justice to take swift action to shield the refinery from any disruption.
“The government must send a clear message: industrial blackmail will not be tolerated. Nigerians have suffered enough from fuel queues and economic hardship. The Dangote Refinery is our best chance at energy independence, and we must not allow vested interests to destroy it,” the forum declared.
In response to the strike yesterday, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery strongly criticised PENGASSAN, accusing the union of long-term sabotage of the Nigerian oil and gas sector and prioritising the interests of its officials over those of ordinary Nigerians.
In its statement, the refinery condemned PENGASSAN’s instruction to suspend crude oil and gas deliveries to the refinery, describing it as a further act of economic sabotage aimed at worsening the plight of Nigerians.
“Indeed, over time, the Association has consistently proved itself as serving interests other than those of Nigerians and Nigerian workers,” it declared.
Dangote recalled that in 2007, when the federal government sold the dormant Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries to Blue Star Consortium, which included the Dangote Group, for $750 million, it was PENGASSAN and NUPENG that obstructed the deal.
“It is now obvious to everyone that the FGN’s decision at the time was the right one and that PENGASSAN and NUPENG ignominiously wrote their names on the wrong pages of history,” the company said.
The refinery also criticised the union’s involvement in the widely publicised rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, calling it a “ruse” that PENGASSAN “knowingly celebrated, despite being a scam on Nigerians.”
The statement additionally accused the union of resisting reforms to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which would have released government funds and attracted private investment into Nigeria’s oil exploration sector.
It highlighted its economic contributions since commencing operations, including road construction, training initiatives, the creation of thousands of jobs for Nigerians, and a compensation structure that “outdistances the best in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.”
It also stated: “The Dangote Group is the highest employer of labour in Nigeria and the highest contributor to the tax revenues of Nigeria and its sub-nationals.
‘’What comparable social responsibility has PENGASSAN, with its billions of Naira in annual check-off dues and subscriptions, lived up to?”
The refinery described PENGASSAN’s recent decision to halt essential fuel supply services—including petrol, diesel, kerosene, cooking gas, and aviation fuel—as reckless, unlawful, and dangerous.
It argued that the action was not about defending Nigerian workers but rather a group of elites leveraging suffering against more than 230 million Nigerians.
“In the process, it (PENGASSAN) cares little if at all about the unbearable hardship and terror it would thereby inflict on all Nigerians, including but not limited to the provision of essential services in our hospitals and medical facilities, schools (nursery and right up to tertiary and research institutions), emergency services, communications facilities, transportation systems, etc,” it said.
The Dangote Refinery called on the federal government and security agencies to urgently intervene to protect the refinery and secure the country’s energy infrastructure, asserting that the union must not be permitted to “bully Nigerians into chaos and economic sabotage.”
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