The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its nationwide strike, which began on Sunday, September 28, 2025.
PENGASSAN also warned it could resume industrial action without notice if its demands are ignored.
At a news briefing in Abuja, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo said the strike was triggered by the sudden dismissal of 800 Nigerian workers.
According to him most of them were fresh graduates and trainees, just two weeks after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed with the company.
“A single letter was used to terminate the appointment of these 800 staff. Lies were told, accusing them of economic sabotage, something they were not even capable of,” Osifo stated.
He dismissed claims that the union’s action was about securing check-off dues, describing it as one of the most effective strikes in Nigeria’s trade union history.
“The combined figure of check-off dues from the sacked workers is not equal to the monthly salary of some of our members in ExxonMobil and other oil companies, so it is laughable to suggest this was our interest,” he said.
Osifo further accused billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote of acting above the law, alleging he has a record of reneging on agreements with unions.
“Dangote feels he is bigger than the laws of Nigeria. He has previously reneged on agreements with NUPENG and is doing the same with us,” Osifo charged.
While acknowledging the intervention of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Labour Minister Muhammad Maigari-Dingyadi, and Finance Minister Wale Edun, the union expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s communiqué, which proposed redeploying the sacked staff to other Dangote Group subsidiaries.
According to PENGASSAN, redeployment must fall under its jurisdiction, otherwise, the deal would be unacceptable.
Despite its reservations, Osifo said the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) agreed to suspend the strike “as an indication to the government that we are patriotic Nigerians.”
However, he warned that PENGASSAN will not hesitate to embark on another strike without prior notice if Dangote fails to honor the agreement.
About the Author
