The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has issued a directive to its members to immediately halt gas supply to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. This decision comes after the union accused the refinery management of disengaging unionized workers and engaging in a “mission of misinformation and propaganda” instead of meaningful dialogue with the union.
In a letter signed by the General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN instructed its branch chairmen to ensure that gas supply to the refinery is cut off without delay. The directive also includes shutting all crude oil supply valves to the refinery and halting all loading operations for vessels headed there. This action is intended to protect the constitutional rights of workers to unionize.
The union’s decision affects key upstream and midstream oil companies, including TotalEnergies, Chevron, Seplat, Shell Nigeria Gas, Oando, and Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company. PENGASSAN has instructed these companies to immediately cut off all crude oil and gas supplies to the refinery.
The Dangote Group has previously denied reports of mass layoffs, stating that only a small number of employees were affected in efforts to safeguard refinery operations from sabotage. The company claims that over 3,000 Nigerians remain employed at the refinery and that workers are free to decide whether or not to join a union.
PENGASSAN’s action is seen as a response to alleged anti-labor practices by the Dangote Refinery. The union has been advocating for the reinstatement of fired Nigerian workers and has accused the refinery of victimizing workers seeking to unionize. The shutdown of gas and crude supply to the refinery may have significant implications for the company’s operations and the Nigerian oil industry as a whole.
The situation highlights the ongoing tensions between labor unions and management in Nigeria’s oil sector. As the dispute between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery continues, it remains to be seen how the issue will be resolved and what impact it will have on the country’s energy industry.
