Following a Dangote Vs PENGASSAN labour showdown that gripped the attention of many across Nigeria, the Federal government has called for calm, summoning officials of both parties to an emergency meeting on Monday, September 29, 2025.
The development came after the Dangote Vs PENGASSAN showdown took centre stage, escalating fears over potential disruptions to the nation’s fuel supply.
The conflict ignited after a leaked memo revealed that Dangote Refinery had allegedly terminated contracts for over 800 Nigerian employees, allegedly for joining PENGASSAN.
Union leaders, including General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, decried the move as a blatant violation of workers’ rights under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010.
Following the development, PENGASSAN ordered an immediate halt to crude oil and gas deliveries to the $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery, accusing management of mass layoffs in retaliation for workers unionizing.
PENGASSAN’s directive targeted key suppliers like TotalEnergies, Chevron, Seplat, Shell Nigeria Gas, Oando, and the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company, instructing branches to shut crude valves and halt vessel loadings bound for the facility.
The letter reads in part: “We bring you fraternal greetings from the National Secretariat. As you are aware, the Management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has disengaged our members in reaction to the exercise of their constitutional right to be unionized.
“They have gone further on a mission of misinformation and propaganda to justify this illegitimacy rather than engaging meaningfully with us to right the wrong.
“Consequent to these, you are hereby directed to cut off gas supply to NGIC effective immediately. All crude oil supply valves to the Refinery should be shut. The loading operation for the vessel headed there should be halted immediately.
“NGIC Chairman, ensure that gas supply to the Refinery is cut off effective immediately.
“All chairmen on this summons are to report promptly the progress of the directive.
Kindly accept the assurances of our highest esteem. Thank you.
Injury to one, Injury to all”
However, Dangote, in a swift response, described PENGASSAN’s order to cut crude oil and gas supplies to its facility as “unlawful, reckless, and a direct threat to the national economy.”
In a statement released on Saturday, the refinery said: “The products that would be disrupted and stopped include but are not limited to aviation fuel, petrol, kerosene, diesel, and cooking gas – all products that are used and required by all stripes of Nigerians and persons living in Nigeria, whether high and mighty or lowly and ordinary.”
“In what circumstance would it be justified for PENGASSAN to so disrupt and introduce hardship into the living conditions of Nigerians? None that we can see.
“Dangote Refinery is one of the largest contributors to the revenue purse of the Nigerian governments – both Federal and sub-national. That contribution is currently threatened by PENGASSAN and would of course be paused if and as soon as and for as long as the PENGASSAN directive is implemented by its branches.
“Absolutely no law gives PENGASSAN the right to direct its branches to ‘cut off’ gas and crude oil supplies to Dangote Refinery at all. Besides, it constitutes misconduct for PENGASSAN or its members to disrupt or interfere in the contract between Dangote Refinery and its various vendors for the supply of gas and crude oil.
“Dangote Refinery is the only refinery of its type in Africa and ordinarily should be the pride of all Nigerians as well as the governments of Nigeria. It should ordinarily have special protection and status.
“We call on the Federal Government and security agencies to act swiftly. Nigerians should take note of the hardship that PENGASSAN wishes to inflict on all of us if not checked. Fuel queues, energy shortages, and price hikes could quickly resurface.
“We urge PENGASSAN to submit to amicable and legal resolution and not resort to actions that could introduce mayhem, disrupt the economy, and discourage investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.”
Doubling down on its earlier directive, PENGASSAN also announced an indefinite nationwide strike starting Monday, September 29, 2025.
PENGASSAN said it issued the strike directive following an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Saturday, September 27.
The order mandated all PENGASSAN members to withdraw services across field locations from 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 28, including control room operations and outfield duties.
This was announced in a circular issued after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, September 27, 2025, and signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa.
“All PENGASSAN members working across field locations are to withdraw services effective 06:00hrs on Sunday, 28 September 2025, and commence 24-hour prayers. This includes all control room operations, panel operations, and outfield personnel,” the union said.
“All PENGASSAN members across all offices, companies, institutions, and agencies should withdraw all services effective 00:01 on Monday, 29th of September, 2025.
“No intervention whatsoever will be entertained across field locations except where the safety of personnel and assets is at risk; such clearance must be obtained from the National Secretariat.
“All processes that involve gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery should be let off effectively immediately,
“All IOC branches must ramp down gas production and supply to Dangote Refinery and petrochemicals.”
However, the federal government has waded into the Dangote Vs PENGASSAN showdown.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, announced that his Ministry has taken steps to bring both parties to a roundtable to stop their dispute from escalating further.
Dingyadi disclosed that invitations have been extended to both the leadership of PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery management to attend an emergency meeting in his office on Monday for the conciliation of their dispute.
He called on the leadership of PENGASSAN to withdraw the strike declaration, allowing his Ministry to conciliate the dispute in a peaceful atmosphere.
This was contained in a statement issued by Patience Onuobia, Head, Information and Public Relations of the Ministry of Labour and Employment
The statement reads in part: “The Ministry of Labour and Employment, through the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations, has extended invitations to the leadership of PENGASSAN and the management of Dangote Refinery to attend a conciliation meeting in my office on Monday.
“I appeal to both parties to be mindful of the importance of the petroleum sector to the country, being the core of its economy. A strike will not only lead to heavy revenue losses for the country but also cause more hardship and difficulties for Nigerians. Consequently, it will have adverse impacts, both on economic stability and national security.”
The Minister urged the feuding parties to give peace a chance, assuring them that the Federal Government would resolve the dispute amicably to the satisfaction of all the parties involved and in the national interest.
