The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its nationwide strike action against Seplat Energy Plc following a high-level intervention by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and other industry regulators. The suspension, announced late Saturday, marks the end of a brief but potent standoff that had threatened to disrupt operations across the independent energy company’s strategic oil and gas assets.
The decision to call off the industrial action came after a gruelling conciliation meeting where Seplat management reportedly made firm commitments to address the union’s grievances regarding the 2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). PENGASSAN had initially directed its members to withdraw services on Friday, citing a breakdown in negotiations and alleged management indifference to staff welfare concerns despite the company’s robust financial performance in the preceding fiscal year.
In an official statement released by the union’s national secretariat, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo confirmed that the strike was suspended to allow for a "conducive atmosphere" for final negotiations. "We have received written guarantees from the management of Seplat Energy and the intervening authorities that our core demands will be addressed within a specific timeframe," Osifo stated. He further directed all branch members at Seplat’s offices in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, as well as those at the Oben and Sapele gas plants, to resume their duties with immediate effect.
Seplat Energy, through its spokesperson, expressed relief at the resolution, emphasising the company's commitment to its workforce. "Our employees remain our most valuable asset, and we are pleased to have found a path forward through constructive dialogue," the company noted in a brief press release. The management reaffirmed its intention to conclude the CBA review by mid-April to ensure long-term industrial harmony.