The National Industrial Court in Abuja on Monday issued an interim order restraining the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from continuing its nationwide strike against the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.
Presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Sublim, ruled that the industrial action—intended to disrupt operations at the refinery by cutting crude oil and gas supplies—could inflict serious damage on Nigeria’s economy. He therefore directed PENGASSAN to suspend the strike with immediate effect.
The ruling followed an ex-parte application filed by the refinery’s counsel, Mr. George Ibrahim, SAN.
In the same order, the court also restrained key regulators—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 by PENGASSAN to halt crude or gas supply to the facility.
Justice Sublim held that the refinery had shown sufficient grounds that irreparable damage could result if the strike was not promptly checked. He stressed the need to maintain the status quo until the substantive motion is determined.
The judge further directed that the restraining order and originating processes be served on all defendants without delay. The matter was adjourned to October 13 for hearing of the motion on notice.
