KEY POINTS
- Seplat senior workers suspended a strike after fresh negotiations resumed with NNPC over the 2026 collective bargaining agreement.
- The industrial action had raised fears of reduced oil output as Nigeria seeks to boost production amid rising global oil prices.
- Seplat targets up to 155,000 boepd in 2026, making uninterrupted operations vital to Nigeria’s oil production and domestic gas supply.
Nigeria’s oil and gas sector recorded a sense of relief over the weekend after senior staff of Seplat Energy suspended a strike that had threatened to disrupt the country’s drive to increase crude oil production.
The workers had embarked on the industrial action on Friday following a breakdown in wage negotiations, triggering concerns about potential output losses at a time Nigeria is seeking to ramp up production amid rising global oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East.
The walkout raised fears that operations at one of Nigeria’s most prolific indigenous energy companies could be affected, potentially undermining efforts to boost national production and stabilise energy supply.
Union Orders Immediate Suspension of Strike
In a letter dated April 4 and addressed to Seplat’s Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brown, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) directed its members to immediately suspend the strike after negotiations resumed with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).
The union explained that discussions on the 2026 collective bargaining agreement had restarted and would continue with the aim of resolving outstanding issues by April 13. PENGASSAN, however, did not disclose specific wage demands or other conditions under negotiation.
The association also noted that the decision to halt the strike followed constructive engagements involving union leaders, company management, and other key stakeholders across Seplat’s operational locations.
Seplat is targeting production of up to 155,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) this year, an increase from last year’s average output of 131,506 boepd. The company is also a major supplier of gas to Nigeria’s domestic power market, making uninterrupted operations critical for both oil production and electricity generation.
