The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has fired back at the Presidency after Vice President Kashim Shettima criticised its recent strike action against the Dangote refinery, insisting the union would not hesitate to act again if its members were victimised.
Vice President Shettima, while speaking at the Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, described Aliko Dangote as a “national institution” who must be protected, warning that “Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN.”
In response, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo argued that “the nation is bigger than Dangote and the Presidency,” maintaining that the union has a duty to defend its members who were allegedly dismissed for joining the association.
“Should this same event occur again tomorrow, our approach will be exactly the same,” Osifo said, adding that workers’ right to strike is protected by law.
The clash follows last week’s industrial action by oil and gas workers over the alleged sacking of 800 staff at the Dangote refinery. Though the strike was suspended after government intervention, tension remains high, with the price of cooking gas still hovering around ₦2,000 per kilogram in Lagos and other cities.
Meanwhile, the refinery has expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for what it called his “timely intervention” in restoring normalcy. The company commended security chiefs and key ministers, including Nuhu Ribadu and Wale Edun, for “their patriotic service.”
In Kaduna, a coalition of pro-Dangote demonstrators under the banner Partners for National Economic Progress (PANEP) staged a march accusing PENGASSAN of “economic sabotage.” They urged the Federal Government to protect local refining and impose tariffs on imported fuel to boost domestic production.
Responding, Osifo dismissed the protesters as “ignorant people,” while PENGASSAN General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa said they had a constitutional right to demonstrate.
Amid the fallout, PENGASSAN dissolved its Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC) and Nigerian Gas Marketing Limited (NGML) branches for failing to cut gas supply to the Dangote refinery during the strike. The affected members have since appealed the decision, claiming they faced safety hazards and intimidation from security operatives.
Despite the controversies, the Federal Government reiterated its commitment to domestic production and economic stability. Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, projected GDP growth of 4.6% in 2025, while Trade Minister Jumoke Oduwole urged faster policy delivery to strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base.
With rising tensions between organised labour and private investors, analysts warn that the outcome of this standoff could shape Nigeria’s investment climate and energy future for years to come.
