By Ademuyiwa Balikis
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has demanded the immediate reinstatement of over 800 Nigerian workers allegedly sacked by Dangote Petroleum Refinery, ordering its members across the oil and gas sector to cut off gas supply, shut crude oil valves, and suspend vessel loading operations to the refinery.
This comes after the union accused the refinery of unjustly terminating over 800 Nigerian workers and replacing them with more than 2,000 foreign nationals, mostly Indians, many of whom allegedly lack valid immigration documentation.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Ighótemu Okugbawa, PENGASSAN described the dismissals as a violation of Section 7 of the Labour Act, which prohibits workplace discrimination and guarantees fair treatment for workers. The association also alleged that the move was a retaliation against the workers for joining PENGASSAN, which is their right under the Trade Union Act.
Following the refinery’s actions, the union issued a directive to its branch chairmen across key oil and gas companies, including TotalEnergies, Seplat, Chevron, Oando, Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), Renaissance, and the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC).
The directive ordered the immediate shutdown of all gas supply to Dangote Refinery, closure of crude oil supply valves, and suspension of vessel loading operations bound for the refinery. Specifically, the NGIC branch was instructed to ensure compliance without delay.
PENGASSAN warned that the refinery’s reliance on foreign labour at the expense of qualified Nigerians undermines national priorities and sets a dangerous precedent for labour practices in the country. The union further accused the Dangote Group of pursuing profit at the expense of local talent, ethical employment, and community welfare across sectors where it operates.
“Instead of valuing and retaining our workforce, management has chosen to undermine Nigerian workers. This slave labour of our brothers and sisters must not be tolerated,” the statement said.
As tension builds, PENGASSAN has called on Nigerians to support its campaign against what it termed the exploitation of the local workforce by capitalists.
