Nigerian workers belonging to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) have been ordered to shut down the supply of gas and crude to the Dangote Refinery immediately. The directive came in a letter from PENGASSAN General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa to the union’s branch chairmen, following the refinery’s termination of more than 800 workers who had voluntarily joined the union.
According to the union, members are to cut off gas supplies to the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company Limited, close all crude‑oil supply valves to the refinery, and halt loading operations for any vessel bound for Dangote. PENGASSAN argues that the refinery’s actions violate workers’ constitutional right to unionize and that the management has resorted to misinformation and propaganda to justify the dismissals rather than addressing the underlying issues.
The 650,000‑barrel‑per‑day refinery dismissed the workers after they joined PENGASSAN, prompting a strong response from the union. PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo has vowed that all dismissed workers should be reinstated by the refinery. The dispute intensified after the refinery claimed the terminations were due to alleged sabotage.
The shutdown of gas and crude supplies marks a significant escalation in the conflict and could affect the refinery’s operations and the broader Nigerian energy sector. As the situation unfolds, it remains uncertain how the refinery will respond to the union’s demands and whether a resolution can be reached. The union’s directive underscores the importance of workers’ rights and the need for meaningful engagement between employers and employees.
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