Workers Set for Strike as NLC Wades into Dangote–PENGASSAN Clash

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has instructed its affiliate unions to commence immediate mobilisation in preparation for a nationwide strike against the Dangote Group, accusing the conglomerate of entrenched anti-worker practices.

This directive follows the strike launched on Monday by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) against the Dangote Refinery, which disrupted operations at key oil and gas regulators including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

On the same day, the National Industrial Court in Abuja issued an interim order restraining PENGASSAN from continuing its strike against Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE, barring any disruption of crude oil and gas supply to the $20bn refinery in Lekki.

PENGASSAN, however, said it was unaware of any such injunction, stressing that court processes must be formally served through a bailiff, not via online reports.

The conflict stems from the union’s allegations that over 800 workers were dismissed for attempting to unionise, with their roles allegedly filled by expatriates, mainly from India. Dangote Group has denied the claim, stating the restructuring was a safety measure and that over 3,000 Nigerians remain in its employment.

The standoff has forced a temporary shutdown at the refinery, a facility central to Nigeria’s push to reduce fuel imports and stabilise the naira. Government representatives met with PENGASSAN and the Dangote Group in Abuja on Monday in a bid to defuse the crisis.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, accused the company of systematic union-busting and disregarding both national and international labour laws. He alleged that Dangote operates “as a state within a state” and insisted that the conglomerate must respect workers’ constitutional rights.

“Their facilities have become plantations of exploitation. The time for dialogue is over; the time for decisive collective action has come,” Ajaero declared.

The NLC directed affiliate unions to unionise Dangote workers under their jurisdiction, set up Action Mobilisation Committees, and liaise with the national secretariat within 72 hours for coordination.

The strike by PENGASSAN has already crippled activities at NNPCL, NUPRC, and NMDPRA offices in Abuja, with full compliance reported by union officials.

Despite the court order, PENGASSAN’s leadership urged members to press on with industrial action until official communication is received. Meanwhile, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has thrown its weight behind PENGASSAN and the Trade Union Congress, condemning what it described as “unjust and anti-labour practices” at the refinery.

The Dangote refinery, built at a cost of over $20bn, is widely viewed as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s energy security strategy. Any prolonged shutdown could worsen fuel supply challenges and place additional strain on the economy.