By David Oladimeji
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has thrown its weight behind its sister union, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), in a renewed push for workers’ rights at the Dangote Refinery.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, PENGASSAN said it could no longer look away as the refinery continues to resist attempts by its workers to join trade unions. The association described the situation as “deeply troubling” and warned that the era of silence is over.
According to the union, the Dangote Refinery has, since its inception, created barriers for workers who sought to join either NUPENG or PENGASSAN. Repeated efforts at dialogue, the statement noted, have ended in frustration, with management showing no willingness to respect labour rights.
“Every worker deserves a voice and a platform to negotiate their rights,” PENGASSAN declared. “The continued denial of this right at such a critical national asset like Dangote Refinery will not be tolerated going forward.”
At the heart of the agitation is the plight of petroleum tanker drivers, many of whom are allegedly denied union membership. But PENGASSAN insists the demand is bigger than tanker drivers alone — it covers all employees of the refinery and its allied companies.
Union leaders argue that allowing workers to unionise is not only in line with Nigeria’s labour laws but also conforms to global standards championed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). “This is about dignity, fairness, and safety in the workplace,” the statement read.
The association reminded stakeholders that unionisation is not a privilege to be granted at will by employers but a fundamental right. Without it, they say, industrial harmony and worker welfare will remain elusive.
Beyond legal obligations, PENGASSAN pointed to the dangers of neglecting workers’ voices in a high-risk sector like oil and gas. From safety lapses to unfair labour practices, they warned that suppressing unions could come at a high human and economic cost.
The statement did not mince words about possible consequences. If the refinery continues to stonewall, PENGASSAN vowed to “join in shutting down operations” as a last resort. Such a move, it warned, would not only disrupt the refinery but ripple through Nigeria’s entire energy sector.
Industry watchers say this escalation underscores growing tensions in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, where workers’ rights often clash with the ambitions of powerful corporations. Dangote Refinery, hailed as Africa’s biggest, now finds itself at the centre of a labour storm.
PENGASSAN urged all stakeholders, from government agencies to civil society, to intervene before the situation spirals out of control. “The time for constructive dialogue is now,” the association pleaded.
Failure to act, it warned, would have consequences that stretch far beyond Dangote’s gates. “This is about the integrity of our entire industry,” PENGASSAN said, hinting at possible disruptions in the nation’s supply chain if the standoff persists.
For many, the battle is symbolic of a larger struggle for fairness in Nigeria’s workplaces. To union leaders, Dangote Refinery is not just another employer; it is a test case for whether the rights of workers will be respected in a flagship national project.
“In unity, we find strength,” PENGASSAN concluded, pledging unwavering support to NUPENG and promising to fight until workers’ rights are fully recognised.
As the tension builds, all eyes are now on Dangote Refinery management to see whether dialogue will prevail — or if Nigeria’s newest energy giant will face its first major labour showdown.
