By Charles Pemu 
ABUJA – Indications emerged yesterday that the Federal Government is making frantic efforts to resolve a bitter dispute between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over the alleged mass sack of over 800 Nigerian workers and their replacement with Indian expatriates.
The industrial action, which commenced yesterday, has crippled the operations of the refinery, with members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) reportedly rendered “redundant” as files and approvals are stalled by the PENGASSAN strike.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, immediately intervened, appealing to PENGASSAN to suspend the strike and inviting both the union and Dangote management to an emergency conciliation meeting today (Monday).
“A strike will not only lead to heavy revenue losses but also cause hardship for Nigerians. It will adversely affect economic stability and national security,” Dingyadi warned, urging PENGASSAN to withdraw the strike declaration to allow for peaceful dialogue.
Officials from the Ministry of Labour are reportedly probing the contentious issues with the aim of reaching an amicable resolution in the interest of peace.
PENGASSAN, which directed its members nationwide to down tools, insisted that only the unconditional recall of all affected members, including engineers allegedly sacked or transferred and replaced by Indians, would end the strike.
General Secretary of PENGASSAN, Lumumba Okugbawa, told reporters: “Freedom of association and unionism is a right, not a privilege, recognised locally and internationally. The government should be talking to the management of Dangote Refinery to recall our members.”
The union had earlier ordered members to cut off gas and crude oil supplies to the facility. However, internal reports suggested only a 25% compliance was achieved, with soldiers allegedly deployed to disperse unionized workers, leading to the reported arrest and release of some members on Saturday night.
In a strong reaction late last night, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery harshly berated PENGASSAN, accusing the union of a “decades-long sabotage” of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and of serving the interests of its leaders rather than ordinary Nigerians.
The company described the union’s directive to cut crude oil and gas supplies as another act of “economic sabotage” designed to inflict hardship. Dangote recalled that PENGASSAN and NUPENG were instrumental in sabotaging the 2007 sale of the moribund Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries to a consortium led by the Dangote Group.
The statement challenged PENGASSAN’s integrity, questioning its social responsibility and demanding it publish its audited accounts for the past ten years. It insisted the strike was not about protecting Nigerian workers but about a “cabal of oligarchs weaponising hardship” against Nigerians. The refinery urged the government and security agencies to protect the facility and the nation’s energy security.
TUC Backs Strike, NUPRC Urges Dialogue
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has directed its members nationwide to prepare to join the strike, strongly condemning Dangote Refinery’s “anti-worker actions” and demanding the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of all affected workers.
In contrast, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, urged both parties to resolve their dispute through dialogue to avoid disruptions to the nation’s energy supply.
Separately, NUPENG leadership raised an alarm over the activities of individuals allegedly impersonating the leadership of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch under the banner of “PTD Elders.”
NUPENG President, Prince Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, denounced the group as “fraudsters” and “paid agents of unconscionable capitalists,” accusing them of trying to destabilize the union. They affirmed that the only recognized PTD leadership is led by Comrade Augustine Egbon.
The union also disclosed that it is currently being sued by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil, and has engaged Femi Falana, SAN, as legal counsel.
Consumer Group Alleges Sabotage Plot
Adding another layer to the controversy, the Concerned Nigerian Consumers Forum urged the Federal Government to probe PENGASSAN’s actions, calling them a “recipe for disaster” that risks a return to fuel scarcity. The group alleged that PENGASSAN’s history includes playing a significant role in the collapse of Nigeria’s public refineries by resisting reforms and blocking privatization. They argued that the Dangote Refinery is Nigeria’s best chance at energy independence and should be protected from “industrial blackmail.”