LAGOS — The standoff between Dangote Refinery and labour unions has intensified as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) declared solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), warning of a possible strike that could paralyse operations at the multi-billion-dollar facility.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN condemned the refinery’s continued resistance to workers’ unionisation, describing it as a violation of Nigerian labour laws and global labour standards.
“On behalf of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), we express our unwavering solidarity with our ally and sister union, NUPENG, in their ongoing struggle to secure the rights of tanker drivers currently being hired at the Dangote Refinery,” the statement read.
According to PENGASSAN, since the inception of the refinery, its management has resisted attempts by workers to join both PENGASSAN and NUPENG despite diplomatic efforts from labour leaders to resolve the issue amicably.
“It is with deep concern that we observe this increasing resistance to unionisation at Dangote Refinery. The continued denial of workers’ rights will no longer be tolerated,” Okugbawa stated.
The union warned that unless the refinery’s management reversed its stance, it would join NUPENG in shutting down operations. “We stand firmly in support of NUPENG’s call for the full unionisation of not just petroleum tanker drivers but all employees of the refinery and its allied companies. Should the situation persist without resolution, PENGASSAN will be left with no option but to join in shutting down refinery operations as a last resort.”
PENGASSAN stressed that workers’ rights to organise and collectively bargain are guaranteed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Nigerian law, calling them essential to ensuring fair labour practices, workplace safety, and employee dignity.
The association also urged stakeholders, particularly the Federal Government, to intervene and mediate between the parties to avoid a crippling industrial crisis in the oil and gas sector.
“Failure to recognise and respect workers’ rights to unionise will have consequences that extend beyond Dangote Refinery, potentially destabilising the wider petroleum industry,” the union warned.
The looming crisis marks a significant escalation in the refinery’s labour dispute, coming at a time when the plant is expected to play a critical role in reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
