Senate launches probe into operations of refineries, labour disputes, others
The Senate has initiated a comprehensive probe into the lingering challenges affecting Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, focusing on refinery operations, labour disputes, and transparency concerns.
The move, announced by the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), follows resolutions adopted at the committee’s recent retreat and forms part of its Strategic Action Work Plan for Q4 2025 to Q4 2026.
In a statement on Thursday in Abuja, Kawu Sumaila (Kano South), the Committee chairman, said the investigative hearing has become imperative in view of the lingering concerns surrounding the operations of private refineries, government-owned refineries and independent marketers; ongoing disputes involving the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and other labour stakeholders; as well as allegations relating to crude oil supply obligations, regulatory overlaps, labour rights disputes, transparency, and competitiveness within the sector.
Sumaila explained that the committee’s intervention is aimed at resolving systemic bottlenecks and strengthening oversight in the downstream petroleum industry.
He said the Senate would provide an open and inclusive platform for all stakeholders, including private refinery owners, government refineries, labour unions, regulators, civil society groups, and other interested parties to present their positions, raise concerns, and make submissions.
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“The outcome of this investigative hearing,” Sumaila stated, “will guide the Senate in reshaping the roles of regulatory agencies, addressing industrial disputes, promoting transparency, and ensuring that the downstream sector operates efficiently under the framework of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).”
He further emphasised that the committee’s efforts are geared towards safeguarding workers’ rights, fostering industrial harmony, and enhancing Nigeria’s energy security and competitiveness in the global oil market.
