The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has issued a stunning directive, ordering its members to immediately cut off all gas and crude oil supply to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. The action is a decisive move in response to the refinery’s alleged firing of unionized workers.
The order, contained in a strongly worded letter signed by General Secretary Comrade Lumumba Ighotemu Okugbawa, accuses the refinery’s management of illegally dismissing staff simply for exercising their constitutional right to be part of a union.
PENGASSAN’s Directives: The Immediate Halt
PENGASSAN accused the refinery’s management of engaging in “misinformation and propaganda” instead of having productive discussions. As a result, the union is deploying its ultimate industrial weapon: shutting down the flow of raw materials.
The directive to all union officials is clear and immediate:
- Halt Gas Supply: Members are directed to cut off gas supply to the refinery from the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) effective immediately.
- Shut Crude Oil Valves: All crude oil supply valves leading to the refinery must be shut down.
- Stop Vessel Loading: Any loading operations for vessels heading to the refinery must be halted immediately.
The Union’s Uncompromising Stand
The directive effectively forces a complete operational standstill at the multi-billion-dollar refinery. The letter ends with the militant union slogan: “Injury to one, Injury to all,” signaling that PENGASSAN is united and prepared for a prolonged standoff until the labor issue is resolved.
The next few hours will be critical as industry players and government stakeholders scramble to resolve this dispute before it leads to a catastrophic shutdown of one of Nigeria’s most significant economic projects.