The nationwide strike declared by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, on Monday has shut down operations at key oil and gas institutions, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The industrial action followed the directive of the union’s National Executive Council after the reported dismissal of about 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
According to The PUNCH, the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja on Monday morning, the gates were locked and staff were denied access. Security operatives confirmed that the action was in compliance with PENGASSAN’s strike order.
The situation was the same at the NMDPRA headquarters in the Central Business District, where activities were completely grounded.
Confirming the development, the PENGASSAN Chairman at NMDPRA, Tony Iziogba, said the strike had recorded “100 per cent compliance.”
“Our members have fully complied with the directive. No staff or visitor is allowed in, and this same level of compliance is being enforced across NNPC, NUPRC, and other agencies,” Iziogba said.
In its resolution, the union accused the Dangote Refinery of violating Nigerian labour laws and International Labour Organisation conventions by sacking unionised workers and replacing them with foreign staff.
PENGASSAN General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, in a strongly worded statement, said, “All processes involving gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery should be halted immediately. All IOC branches must ramp down gas production and supply to the refinery and its petrochemicals.”
The union also ordered members in field locations to withdraw their services and began a round-the-clock prayer vigil on Sunday in solidarity with the affected workers.
