The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called an emergency National Executive Council meeting after Dangote Refinery mass‑sacked workers for their union affiliation. In an interview, PENGASSAN National President Comrade Festus Osifo outlined the union’s response plan, confirming that the emergency meeting—scheduled for the weekend—will decide how to challenge the refinery’s actions and work toward recalling the dismissed employees.
The terminations followed Dangote Refinery’s decision to remove Nigerian workers who had joined PENGASSAN. This move comes amid ongoing tensions between the refinery and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over worker unionisation. In early September 2025, Dangote Refinery secured an interim injunction that temporarily barred NUPENG from striking, a restriction that lasted seven days.
The recent sackings have heightened concerns about labour rights and the potential impact on Nigeria’s oil sector, a cornerstone of the national economy. PENGASSAN’s emergency meeting is expected to address these issues, consider the possibility of a strike, and determine the next steps. The outcome could have significant implications for the refinery, the workers, and the broader oil industry. As the situation develops, the union’s strategy and its effects on the sector will be closely monitored.
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