Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the ongoing nationwide strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), warning that the industrial action is worsening hardship for Nigerians and threatening the economy.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Obi criticised what he described as the government’s slow response to the crisis, which began after the dismissal of over 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, allegedly for joining the union.

“I am worried about the lack of response by the Government to the threat and eventual commencement of a strike by PENGASSAN, which is already having a very adverse impact on Nigerian citizens and the Nigerian economy,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor urged immediate dialogue to resolve the dispute between the union and the refinery.

“I strongly appeal to the Federal Government to intervene quickly to resolve this dispute in a manner that protects the interests of the Nigerian people, Nigerian workers, Nigerian investors and the economy at large. The protection of these interests in a win-win manner is the primary responsibility of any responsible government,” he added.

Obi warned that failure to act swiftly could deepen the suffering of citizens already grappling with economic hardship.

“The Federal Government must learn to nip in the bud the labour crisis that has the potential of creating further suffering for the already struggling citizens of our dear country,” he said.

The strike, which commenced on Monday, has disrupted operations at critical oil and gas institutions, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

While the Federal Government has appealed to PENGASSAN to suspend the action, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has demanded the reinstatement of the sacked workers. The dispute has already raised fears of fuel scarcity and further pressure on Nigeria’s fragile economy.