The National Industrial Court has issued an interim injunction stopping the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association from embarking on any strike or picketing against the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim, ruling on an ex parte application filed by the refinery’s counsel, George Ibrahim (SAN), also barred the unions from blocking public roads or disrupting operations at Dangote Refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Ltd.
The Abuja court, in its Wednesday ruling, held that irreparable damage could occur if the order was not granted. The interim injunction, valid for seven days, will remain in effect pending the hearing of a motion on notice.
Justice Subilim directed that the unions be served within the week and ordered the case file transferred to the court president for reassignment, as the vacation jurisdiction ends on September 23.
Dangote Refinery had asked the court to restrain NUPENG and the drivers’ association, their members, agents, and representatives from engaging in any industrial action capable of crippling its operations. It also sought an order compelling truck drivers to continue petroleum supply services to the refinery, MRS, and the Nigerian public.
Ibrahim argued that the unions’ planned actions contravened Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association, as well as Section 12(4) of the Trade Union Act. He stressed that the court had jurisdiction to intervene.
In a supporting affidavit, the refinery pledged to pay damages if the injunction is later found to have been wrongly issued. The court agreed that the balance of convenience favoured the refinery and that a serious issue was at stake.
Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery restated its support for voluntary unionism, noting that it respects workers’ rights to join or abstain from union membership. It also dismissed claims of monopoly, stressing that over 30 refinery licences have been granted to other private operators.
NUPENG, however, accused the refinery of violating a recent resolution on workers’ rights and intimidating union officials. The union has placed its members on red alert and called for government and civil society intervention.
