The National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued an interim order stopping the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from continuing its nationwide strike action against Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.
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Justice Emmanuel Sublim, who delivered the ruling on Monday, held that the planned disruption of crude oil and gas supplies to the refinery could inflict severe harm on Nigeria’s fragile economy. He therefore ordered the union to suspend the strike immediately.
The court’s decision followed an ex-parte application filed by the refinery’s counsel, Mr. George Ibrahim, SAN.
In addition, the court restrained regulatory agencies — the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) — from enforcing any directive from PENGASSAN to cut supply to the refinery.
Justice Sublim agreed with the refinery’s argument that allowing the strike to proceed could cause irreparable damage if not urgently curtailed. He ordered all parties to maintain the status quo until the substantive motion is heard.
The restraining order and suit are to be served on all defendants without delay. The case has been adjourned to October 13 for the hearing of the motion on notice.
