The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Monday began a nationwide strike, crippling operations at Nigeria’s key oil and gas institutions.
The strike, which followed a weekend directive by the union’s National Executive Council, forced a complete withdrawal of services at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
At the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja, reporters observed that the main gate was locked, leaving staff stranded. Security officials confirmed the facility was sealed off in compliance with the strike order. Similarly, the NMDPRA headquarters in the Central Business District witnessed a total shutdown.
PENGASSAN Chairman at NMDPRA, Tony Iziogba, confirmed “100 per cent compliance,” noting that staff and visitors were denied entry. He said the directive had also been fully enforced at NNPCL and other affected agencies.
The union said the strike was triggered by the alleged unlawful termination of about 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. It accused the company of violating Nigerian labour laws and International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards by sacking employees for joining the union and replacing them with expatriates.
“All processes involving gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery should be halted immediately,” the union’s resolution, signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, declared. “All IOC branches must ramp down gas production and supply to Dangote Refinery and petrochemicals.”
With crude oil and gas supply to the refinery already cut off, marketers have warned of potential disruptions in product distribution that could trigger fuel price hikes and worsen scarcity nationwide.
PENGASSAN had earlier instructed members nationwide to stop work from 12:01 a.m. on September 29, while field workers were directed to shut down operations from 6:00 a.m. on September 28 and observe continuous prayer sessions.