Energy Crisis: Nigerian Government summons Dangote Refinery, PENGASSAN over planned strike

*The Nigerian Government invites the Management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and leadership of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria to an emergency meeting to resolve their lingering trade dispute, and avert planned strike

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Against the backdrop of the current altercation over trade dispute cum workers’ rights, the Nigerian Government has summoned the Management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the leadership of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENSASSAN) to an emergency meeting to resolve the issue.

ConsumerConnect reports the Federal Government had the PENSASSAN members nationwide to reconsider its proposed strike over its face-off with Dangote Refinery.

Maigari Dingyadi, Honourable Minister for Labour and Employment

The government also observed that if PENGASSAN’s planned industrial action is activated, it would take a huge toll on the country’s economy.

Maigari Dingyadi, Honourable Minister for Labour and Employment, disclosed the meeting with both Dangote and the Association would hold at the Ministry’s Headquarters, in Abuja, FCT.

The truce from the government is coming on the heels of the turn of events amid the escalating rift between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN, which reached a head Sunday, September 28, 2025.

PENGASSAN Sunday directed all its members across Nigeria to withdraw their services over the sack of about 800 of its members.

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Speaking on the far-reaching effects of the Association’s move to resort to a strike, Dingyadi reportedly affirmed that the ongoing dispute between the two oil and gas industry organisations would have adverse impacts on both on economic stability and national security.

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The Minister, however, urged the leadership of PENGASSAN to withdraw the strike declaration in order to allow the Ministry of Labour and Employment to conciliate the dispute in a peaceful atmosphere.

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He further said: “The Ministry of Labour and Employment through the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations has extended invitations to the leadership of PENGASSAN and the Management of Dangote Refinery to attend a conciliation meeting in my office on Monday.

“I appeal to both parties to be mindful of the importance of the petroleum sector to the country, being the core of her economy.”

Patience Onuobia, Spokesperson of the Ministry, quoted Dingyadi to have said: “A strike will not only lead to heavy revenue losses by the country but also cause more hardship and difficulties for Nigerians.

“Consequentially, it will have adverse impacts, both on economic stability and national security.”