The House of Representatives has agreed that its leadership, led by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, will step in to resolve the ongoing dispute between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
The decision followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance moved by Hon. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa (APC, Kano) and Hon. Abdulssamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto) during Tuesday’s plenary session.
- Civil Society Groups Condemn Crackdown on #FreeNnamdiKanu Protesters
- Tinubu Celebrates Kwankwaso on His Birthday, Calls Him a Friend
Hon. Doguwa explained that the disagreement between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery, located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, led to a strike that disrupted operations at the $20 billion facility, the largest single-train refinery in the world.
He said the industrial action caused a significant loss in Nigeria’s crude oil production — about 200,000 barrels per day for three days — and worsened the fuel supply situation across the country, resulting in scarcity and long queues at filling stations.
Doguwa described the Dangote Refinery as a key private investment of national importance, capable of improving energy security, creating jobs, reducing fuel imports, and saving foreign exchange.
He also explained that the refinery operates under the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), which gives it special legal protection under the law. According to him, labour issues in free trade zones are governed by NEPZA’s rules, not regular employment laws.
The lawmaker warned that union actions violating NEPZA’s legal framework could discourage investors and harm Nigeria’s economic growth. He added that continuous industrial disruptions at strategic private investments like Dangote Refinery could weaken investor confidence and threaten national development.