The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has summoned an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting following the mass sack of Nigerian workers at Dangote Refinery.

This development comes after reports that the refinery dismissed its employees over their decision to join the union.

Speaking on the issue, the National President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Festus Osifo, confirmed the meeting in an interview on Friday. “We will call for an emergency NEC meeting by the weekend to decide on the way forward,” he said.

The union has assured that efforts are underway to ensure the sacked workers are reinstated. However, industry watchers fear the situation may escalate into a strike that could disrupt Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

The dispute between Dangote Refinery and oil unions has been brewing in recent weeks. Earlier in September, the company obtained a temporary court injunction to restrain the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) from embarking on a strike.

With tensions rising, all eyes are now on PENGASSAN’s NEC meeting to determine the next steps in what could become a major industrial showdown.