In response to the recent industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) against the Dangote Refinery, the House of Representatives has passed a resolution aimed at safeguarding strategic private investments from future disruptions.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion jointly sponsored by Hon. Ado Doguwa and Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki, presented during plenary on the floor of the House.
In the motion, the lawmakers stressed that the Dangote Refinery is situated within a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) and argued that the strike action may have contravened the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) Act, which provides a 10-year no-strike protection for businesses operating within such zones.
The House expressed serious concern that the recent PENGASSAN strike may have breached this law, warning that such industrial actions could undermine investor confidence and negatively impact Nigeria’s economic growth.
Highlighting the financial losses recorded during the three-day strike, the lawmakers urged the Federal Government to step in swiftly to ensure such disputes are resolved amicably without threatening vital economic assets.
The House also resolved to develop policy frameworks aimed at preventing future disruptions to strategic investments and instructed its leadership to engage with key stakeholders, including labour unions and private sector representatives, to address the broader concerns surrounding industrial actions.
The PENGASSAN strike, which took place last month, was triggered by allegations that the Dangote Refinery had illegally dismissed over 800 Nigerian workers. The union claimed that the refinery violated both local labour laws and International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, accusing the management of replacing the affected workers with over 2,000 Indian nationals—a move the union described as a blatant disregard for Nigerian workers’ rights.
In response, the Dangote Refinery, which was officially commissioned in May 2023, denied allegations of mass layoffs. The company stated that only a small fraction of its approximately 3,000 Nigerian employees were affected, describing the restructuring as necessary for safety and operational efficiency.
The company further accused PENGASSAN of engaging in “criminal conduct,” stating that no law grants the union the authority to disrupt supply operations.
