Dangote Refinery Union Dispute prompts House intervention to protect investment, restore fuel supply, and uphold Free Trade Zone laws

Dangote Refinery Union Dispute has drawn the urgent attention of the Nigerian House of Representatives, following a crippling strike that disrupted petroleum distribution nationwide and deepened fuel scarcity.

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On Tuesday, the House resolved to intervene in the dispute between the Dangote Refinery and members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

The industrial action, which began on 29 September 2025, stalled operations at the $20 billion refinery and reportedly cost Nigeria over 600,000 barrels of crude oil output within three days.

The motion—titled “We need to protect private investment from adversarial unionism”—was co-sponsored by lawmakers Alhassan Doguwa (Kano) and Abdussamad Dasuki (Sokoto).

The motion was adopted with resounding support during Tuesday’s plenary.

Doguwa, representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency, highlighted the strategic national importance of the Dangote Refinery, the largest of its kind in Africa.

He warned that unchecked union actions within Free Trade Zones could damage investor confidence and endanger Nigeria’s economic recovery.

He reminded the House of Section 18(5) of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Act, which states that employment in such zones falls under NEPZA regulation, not general labour law—suggesting PENGASSAN’s actions may have breached legal boundaries.

“The Dangote Refinery is not just a private venture—it is a pillar of our energy future. We must protect such investment from unlawful disruption,” Doguwa stated.

Though largely supportive, some lawmakers cautioned against a hasty approach. Ahmad Jaha, representing Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza, advised a more measured investigation to avoid further escalating tensions.

Ultimately, the House leadership was mandated to broker dialogue between the refinery and the union to swiftly resolve the Dangote Refinery Union Dispute.

Federal Ministries of Labour, Industry, Justice, and NEPZA were tasked with developing a framework to prevent similar future disruptions and ensure compliance with Free Zone laws.

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As queues lengthen at fuel stations and hardship deepens, the resolution signals a decisive move to not only resolve the current crisis but to fortify Nigeria’s investment climate.