Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim of the National Industrial Court in Abuja has restrained the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from embarking on its planned industrial action against Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.
The interim order, granted on Monday following an ex-parte motion by Dangote Refinery, also bars the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL), the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority, and the Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission from halting crude oil and gas supplies to the facility.
Arguing the application, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, George Ibrahim, said the union’s directive to cut off supply followed the refinery’s recent reorganisation, which saw some staff disengaged. He stressed that PENGASSAN wrongly described the move as anti-labour, and had mobilised members in oil and gas agencies to frustrate the refinery’s operations.
In his ruling, Justice Subilim held that the balance of convenience favoured the applicant, warning that allowing the planned strike could cripple the refinery, disrupt essential energy supply, and harm Nigeria’s economy. He ruled that the restraining order would last for seven days pending the hearing of the substantive motion.
The matter was adjourned to October 13 for hearing of the motion on notice.
