Operations were abruptly halted at Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited on Tuesday morning.
Members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria stormed the Broad Street office in Lagos. Moreover, the entrance to the building was barricaded, bringing activities to a standstill.
The action left senior officials stranded outside the premises. However, workers who had earlier entered the building were later asked to leave as tensions rose.
The PENGASSAN protest at Shell Lagos disrupted traffic flow around Broad Street. Vehicles were denied access, and security presence was heightened.
According to a strike notice shared with the media, the workers are challenging what they described as unfair benchmarking under Shell’s global reward system. They accused management of wage discrimination against Nigerian staff.
In addition, the union criticized the execution of the company’s “Best-in-Basin” cost optimisation policy. They claimed the approach has negatively affected employee welfare.
The notice stated that allowances do not reflect current market realities. Furthermore, the workers argued that a ₦1 million car grant is unrealistic in today’s economic climate.
Concerns were also raised about staffing decisions. The union alleged that positions meant for Nigerians are being filled by expatriates. Consequently, frustration among local employees has grown.
The protest letter also referenced what it described as “Non-Accidental Deaths” among colleagues. These were linked to heavy workloads, stress, rising debt, and repeated restructuring.
Meanwhile, the demonstration comes at a delicate period for the oil and gas sector. SNEPCo has recently undergone divestment moves, with much of its Nigerian operations now centered in Lagos alongside Shell Nigeria Gas.
The PENGASSAN protest at Shell Lagos highlights growing concerns over wages and workplace conditions in multinational firms operating in Nigeria.
