A nationwide strike beginning today threatens to paralyse Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, as the standoff between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Petroleum Refinery has escalated over alleged mass sack of Nigerian workers and their replacement with expatriates.
The federal government, through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, waded into the crisis, appealing to PENGASSAN to suspend its strike and announcing an emergency conciliation meeting for today in Abuja.
Dingyadi warned that the industrial action could inflict heavy revenue losses and hardship on Nigerians, urging both sides to embrace dialogue.
But PENGASSAN stood its ground, insisting that only the unconditional recall of over 800 sacked members, including engineers allegedly replaced by Indians, would end the strike.
“All field operations have been directed to withdraw services from 6 a.m. Crude oil lifting terminals, NLNG operations, oil and gas platforms, logistics bases and marine bases have complied,” General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa said.
The union accused Dangote of victimising its members and warned that if unchecked, the refinery’s actions would set a dangerous precedent for the industry.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) also declared full support for PENGASSAN, putting its affiliates on red alert and demanding the reinstatement of all affected workers.
Dangote hits back
Dangote Refinery, however, accused PENGASSAN of decades-long sabotage of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, describing the strike order as “reckless, lawless and dangerous.”
The company recalled that PENGASSAN and NUPENG frustrated the 2007 sale of moribund state refineries to a Dangote-led consortium, and questioned the union’s role in the failed rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery.
“PENGASSAN is weaponising hardship against 230 million Nigerians in the name of unionism,” the refinery said, urging government and security agencies to protect the facility.
It challenged the union to publish audited accounts of its check-off dues and list corporate social responsibility activities undertaken in the past decade.
Regulatory, consumer pushback
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) also called for dialogue, warning that disruptions could destabilise energy supply.
Separately, the Concerned Nigerian Consumers Forum accused PENGASSAN of plotting to sabotage the refinery and undermine Nigeria’s energy independence.
They said: “Who benefits if the refinery fails? Certainly not the Nigerian people, but fuel importers and rent-seekers who profit from chaos.”
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