Oil and gas workers under the umbrella of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Monday embarked on an industrial action.

PENGASSAN had on Sunday directed a nationwide strike, instructing all its members in various offices, companies, institutions, and agencies to withdraw their services beginning from 12:01 am on September 29, 2025.

Consequently, members of the union withdrew their services at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Monday.

In compliance with the strike directive, the gate to the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja was under lock, with scores of workers shut out outside the premises and no staff allowed into the facility.

In the same vein, the strike action also grounded activities at the NMDPRA headquarters as workers fully complied with the Union’s directive.

PENGASSAN called the strike in protest against what the union described as wrongful dismissal of about 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The union also directed members stationed in various field locations to withdraw services from 6am on Sunday, September 28, and commence a round-the-clock prayer vigil.

PENGASSAN General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, had accused the Dangote Refinery of violating the Nigerian labour laws and International Labour Organisation conventions by sacking workers for joining the union.

The Union alleged that the dismissed workers had been replaced by foreigners.