By Oluwabukunmi
The House of Representatives has resolved to mediate in the ongoing dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery, whose recent face-off disrupted the distribution of petroleum products nationwide.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance co-sponsored by Hon. Alhassan Doguwa (Kano) and Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki (Sokoto) during Tuesday’s plenary session.
The motion, titled “Need to Protect Private Investment from Adversarial Unionism,” underscored the strategic national importance of the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, which is regarded as Africa’s largest privately owned petroleum refinery.
The industrial dispute, which began on September 29, 2025, reportedly led to disruptions in refinery operations, causing an estimated daily loss of 200,000 barrels of crude oil production over a three-day period. The crisis also intensified fuel scarcity across the country, leading to long queues at filling stations and widespread hardship for millions of Nigerians.
In his lead debate, Doguwa described the Dangote Refinery as a “strategic private investment of immense national importance”, capable of guaranteeing energy security, reducing import dependency, creating jobs, and conserving foreign exchange.
“The House is aware that the Dangote Refinery operates within a Free Trade Zone and therefore falls under the jurisdiction of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA),” Doguwa said.
“Section 18(5) of the NEPZA Act clearly stipulates that employment within such zones shall be governed by rules set by the Authority and not by general labour enactments. Any union action that disregards this law not only breaches the Act but also threatens the investment climate of our country.”
He warned that persistent union disruptions targeting vital private investments could erode investor confidence and undermine national economic stability.
In his contribution, Hon. Ahmad Jaha (Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza) cautioned against hasty actions, urging the House to handle the matter carefully to avoid aggravating tensions between the refinery and labour unions.
Following deliberations, the House unanimously adopted the motion and mandated its leadership to intervene and facilitate reconciliation between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery in the interest of national stability.
Lawmakers also urged the Federal Ministries of Labour and Employment, Industry, Trade and Investment, and Justice to collaborate in developing a national policy framework aimed at protecting strategic private investments from adversarial or unlawful union activities.
The resolution reflects growing concern within the National Assembly about balancing labour rights with economic security, particularly as Nigeria seeks to attract and retain major private investors in the oil and gas sector.
