PENGASSAN, TUC Back NUPENG in Dispute with Dangote Refinery, Threaten Shutdown

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have thrown their full support behind the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in its ongoing standoff with the management of Dangote Refinery — warning that continued conflict could lead to a complete shutdown of operations at the facility.

NUPENG had earlier declared industrial action over alleged efforts by the Dangote Refinery to prevent its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tanker drivers from unionising. The union claims the company's management is obstructing workers' right to freely associate.

In a statement issued Monday by its General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN accused the Dangote Refinery management of actively resisting the enrolment of eligible staff into both PENGASSAN and NUPENG. The union warned that if the impasse is not resolved promptly, it would have no choice but to join in halting refinery operations.

Similarly, the TUC condemned what it described as a blatant attack on workers' rights and warned Dangote Group to cease such practices immediately. A joint statement signed by TUC President and General Secretary said the Congress would not stand by while Nigerian workers are "treated as slaves in their own country."

The TUC warned that failure to address the issue could trigger a full-scale solidarity action from the Congress and its affiliate unions across the country.

In response to the growing tension, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi, convened an emergency meeting in Abuja on Monday to seek a peaceful resolution. The session was co-led by Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha.

Attendees included the leadership of NUPENG, officials from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and TUC, as well as the Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ogbugo Ukoha. Representatives from the Dangote Group and MRS Petroleum were also present.

The unions maintain that unless immediate steps are taken to resolve the situation and respect workers’ rights, they are prepared to escalate the matter with industrial action.

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