Dangote: PENGASSAN strike shuts down oil, gas agencies
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Monday began a nationwide strike that paralysed operations at key oil and gas institutions, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The strike, which followed a directive from the union’s National Executive Council over the weekend, saw members withdraw their services nationwide, forcing critical regulatory agencies to shut their gates.
At the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja, the main entrance was locked, leaving staff stranded outside. Security officials confirmed that the closure was in line with PENGASSAN’s order. Similarly, the NMDPRA office in Abuja’s Central Business District was completely shut down, with staff and visitors denied access.
Confirming the development, Tony Iziogba, PENGASSAN chairman at NMDPRA, said the exercise had recorded “100 per cent compliance” across agencies, including the NNPCL.
The union said the action was triggered by the alleged unlawful termination of about 800 employees at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. PENGASSAN accused the refinery of violating Nigerian labour laws and International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards by sacking workers for union membership and replacing them with expatriates.
The union’s resolution, signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, directed members to halt crude oil and gas supply to Dangote Refinery immediately. “All IOC (International Oil Companies) branches must ramp down gas production and supply to Dangote Refinery and petrochemicals,” it stated.
PENGASSAN had earlier ordered members nationwide to down tools from 12:01 a.m. on September 29, while field workers were instructed to shut down operations from 6:00 a.m. on September 28 and embark on a continuous prayer session.
The move has already sent ripples across the energy sector, with oil marketers warning of looming disruptions in product distribution that could trigger higher fuel prices and worsen scarcity.
