The House of Representatives has waded into the industrial dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery, which has disrupted fuel distribution across the country and deepened the ongoing scarcity crisis.
The lawmakers’ intervention followed a motion of urgent public importance co-sponsored by Alhassan Doguwa (Kano) and Abdussamad Dasuki (Sokoto) during Tuesday’s plenary session.
Titled “We Need to Protect Private Investment from Adversarial Unionism,” the motion called attention to the national importance of the $20 billion Dangote Refinery, described as Africa’s largest private petroleum processing facility.
According to the sponsors, the industrial action declared by PENGASSAN on September 29, 2025, crippled refinery operations and caused a nationwide distribution breakdown, leading to long fuel queues, widespread scarcity, and economic losses. Reports indicate the strike also cut Nigeria’s crude production by about 200,000 barrels per day over a three-day period.
Doguwa emphasized that the refinery, being a major private investment in a Free Trade Zone, is governed by the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) Act. He cited Section 18(5) of the Act, which stipulates that employment within Free Zones falls under NEPZA regulations rather than national labour laws, adding that union actions contrary to this legal framework risk undermining investor confidence.
“The Dangote Refinery represents a strategic national asset with the capacity to guarantee energy security, reduce import dependency, create jobs, and conserve foreign exchange. We must protect such investments from unlawful disruptions that could damage Nigeria’s economic stability,” Doguwa stated.
The lawmakers warned that continued confrontations between unions and private sector operators could erode investor confidence and stall economic progress. Ahmad Jaha (Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza) cautioned, however, that any legislative inquiry should be approached carefully to avoid escalating tensions.
Following deliberations, the House adopted the motion and mandated its leadership to mediate between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery to restore normalcy. It also urged the Federal Ministries of Labour and Employment, Industry, Trade and Investment, and Justice to formulate a national policy framework safeguarding critical private investments from “adversarial and unlawful union actions.”
Additionally, the House called on the Ministry of Justice and NEPZA to ensure full enforcement of Section 18(5) of the NEPZA Act in all Free Zone operations to prevent future disruptions.
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