This The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has sought to calm public fears that its planned nationwide strike will lead to fuel scarcity. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, union president Festus Osifo insisted that while the association has already cut gas supply to refineries and fertilizer plants, the move will not immediately impact the availability of petrol at filling stations. “The effect, as of today, as of tomorrow, even by next weekend, is not going to dovetail into Nigerians queuing to buy PMS,” Osifo assured.

The union had called the strike over the alleged dismissal of nearly 1,000 Nigerian workers by the Dangote Refinery, accusing the company of replacing them with over 2,000 foreign workers. Osifo said PENGASSAN’s industrial action was meant to defend workers’ rights, stressing that the mass sack was a violation of labour laws and international conventions. “You cannot send close to 1,000 Nigerians to the streets because they are exercising their rights to unionise,” he said, warning that the government must ensure Dangote complies with Nigeria’s labour standards.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has appealed to the union to shelve the strike and instead embrace dialogue. Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, confirmed that invitations have been sent to PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery management for an emergency conciliation meeting on Monday. While Osifo confirmed the union would attend the session, he made clear that their stance remains unchanged: the sacked workers must be reinstated. He further urged government intervention, saying, “Nigeria is not a banana republic.”

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