The nationwide strike declared by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Monday has paralysed operations at key oil and gas institutions, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
At the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja, the main gate was locked, leaving several employees stranded. Security operatives confirmed that no staff were allowed in, in compliance with the strike directive. Similarly, activities at the NMDPRA office in the Central Business District were completely grounded as workers fully observed the industrial action.
PENGASSAN said the strike was inevitable following the alleged wrongful dismissal of about 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. The union accused the company of violating Nigerian labour laws and international labour standards by sacking workers for joining the union, before replacing them with foreigners. In protest, the union directed its members to halt all crude oil and gas supply to the Dangote refinery, a move that has sent shockwaves through the energy sector.
The strike, which officially began at midnight on September 29, also extended to members stationed in field locations, who were instructed to down tools and hold a continuous prayer vigil from Sunday, September 28. The directive has heightened fears of severe disruptions in fuel supply, with oil marketers warning of scarcity and price hikes across the country.
In a strongly worded resolution, the union ordered all International Oil Companies (IOCs) to cut gas production and supply to the Dangote refinery and its petrochemical operations. It also vowed to sustain the industrial action until the dismissed workers were reinstated and the refinery complied with labour regulations.
The federal government has moved to intervene, with the Minister of Labour convening an emergency meeting to broker peace. At the same time, the National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued a restraining order barring PENGASSAN and other parties from cutting crude and gas supply to Dangote pending further hearings. The case has been adjourned to October 13.
While Dangote insists the dismissals were part of an organisational restructuring aimed at addressing sabotage and operational lapses, PENGASSAN maintains its action is a fight for workers’ rights. With both sides refusing to back down, analysts warn that Nigeria’s energy sector faces escalating risks of fuel shortages, unstable power generation, and wider economic disruptions.
