The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed its members across the country to withdraw their services following the dismissal of more than 800 Nigerian workers at the Dangote Refinery.

The directive was announced in Abuja on Sunday by PENGASSAN’s General Secretary, Mr. Lumumba Okugbawa, after an emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) held on Saturday.

Okugbawa described the refinery’s action as a flagrant violation of Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and international labour conventions. According to him, the refinery has replaced Nigerians with over 2,000 foreign workers, subjecting the displaced employees to what he called “the worst type of working conditions in the oil and gas industry.”

“No individual or company, no matter how highly placed, is above the law or beyond the reach of our national institutions,” he said.

The NEC ordered all PENGASSAN members working in field locations to withdraw their services from 06:00 hours on Sunday, 28 September, while members in offices, companies, institutions, and government agencies were instructed to down tools from 00:01 hours on Monday, 29 September.

Okugbawa further disclosed that all processes involving the supply of gas and crude oil to the Dangote Refinery had been suspended with immediate effect.

The union also declared a 24-hour nationwide prayer session. “The prayer point should include a call on Almighty God to give courage to those in authority to rein in Dangote and his co-travellers, compelling them to obey the laws of our country,” he said.

Okugbawa insisted that the union would not allow the dismissal of its members to go unchallenged. “An injury to one is an injury to all. No man is bigger than our country,” he declared.