- Minister of Labour, Hon. Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, faces mounting criticism over failure to intervene in the Dangote–PENGASSAN dispute.
- PENGASSAN directs members to withdraw services from field locations and offices, halt crude and gas supply, and pressure IOCs to scale down production.
- Dangote describes union actions as “lawless” and “terror tactics,” warning of nationwide disruptions to hospitals, schools, transport, and emergency services.
- Nigerians question the relevance of the Labour Ministry, insisting that the Presidency should not always be the first to intervene in trade disputes.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Hon. Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, has come under intense fire from Nigerians following the deepening dispute between the Dangote Group and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Many citizens, especially those praising the achievements of the present administration, are calling on the minister to urgently intervene and resolve the trade union crisis before it spirals out of control.
Dangote Group vs PENGASSAN
The controversy escalated after the Dangote Group accused PENGASSAN of plotting to sabotage the operations of the newly commissioned Dangote Refinery. The company warned that the union’s planned strike could severely disrupt fuel supply for over 230 million Nigerians.
According to Dangote, this is not the first time the union has worked against its interests. The Group recalled how PENGASSAN opposed the $750 million Federal Government deal in 2007 to sell the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries to a Dangote-led consortium, describing the union’s latest move as a continuation of that resistance.
In a strongly worded statement released on Sunday, Dangote alleged that PENGASSAN had instructed its members to withdraw services from field operations beginning 6:00 a.m. on 28 September 2025, and from offices nationwide starting 29 September 2025. The union also reportedly directed members to halt gas and crude supply to the refinery and ordered international oil companies (IOCs) to scale down production.
The statement read in part:
“The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, in continuation of its lawless acts and sabotage against Nigeria and its people, sent out a Release to its members on 27 September 2025, directing them to withdraw services effective 06:00 hrs on Sunday, 28 September 2025.”
Dangote further alleged that the strike was designed to cripple the production and distribution of essential petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, kerosene, cooking gas, and aviation fuel. It warned that such disruptions could paralyze hospitals, schools, emergency services, transportation networks, and communication systems.
Public Backlash Against the Labour Ministry
As the dispute deepens, attention has shifted to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, with critics accusing Hon. Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi of failing to fulfill his constitutional mandate of resolving trade disputes.
Social media has amplified the outrage. Commenting on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Yasser Asekome (@SAsekome) wrote:
“In all of these scuffles between @DangoteGroup, @officialNUPENG9, TUC, and PENGASSAN, what role exactly has the Minister of Labour played? Or isn’t his Ministry saddled with the responsibility of resolving Trade Disputes? Who is the Minister of Labour?
The release yesterday does not negate the fact that the Ministry has failed in its mandate for allowing these issues to linger for so long. And if the Presidency has to be the first respondent for every Labour dispute, then why do we even have the Ministry of Labour?😏”
Calls for Urgent Action
Observers argue that leaving such a critical dispute to fester risks undermining Nigeria’s energy security and eroding investor confidence in the oil and gas sector. They stress that the Minister of Labour must immediately convene all parties Dangote Group, PENGASSAN, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to negotiate a truce.
Nigerians say allowing the Presidency to constantly step in first undermines the very essence of the Labour Ministry. The onus, they insist, lies squarely on Hon. Dingyadi to resolve the crisis and protect both workers’ rights and national interests.
It’s better be resolved because it will affect masses including hospitals, schools and even travellers as well as private sectors.
As a labour minister, he should be seen as a defender of worker’s right first, not just a mediator worried about economic fallout. Calling for peace without addressing the rooth in justice. Also Nigeria is already grappling with inflation, power shortages, and fuel instability. A refinery strike is not just a labour issue. It’s a national economic threat. Dingyadi’s slow or soft response feels like neglect to many Nigerians.