The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja on Monday issued an interim order stopping the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from continuing with its nationwide industrial action against the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.
Justice Emmanuel Sublim, who presided over the matter, granted the order after considering an ex-parte application filed by the refinery’s counsel, George Ibrahim, SAN.
In his ruling, Justice Sublim directed the Association to stop the action forthwith, noting that the strike—which was intended to disrupt operations at the refinery by cutting crude oil and gas supplies—was “capable of causing serious damage to the nation’s economy.”
The court agreed with the refinery’s submission that the strike could cause “irreparable damage” if not promptly addressed. Justice Sublim emphasized the need to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive motion.
In the same vein, the court also restrained key regulatory bodies—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 oil and gas supply to the refinery.
The court directed that the restraining order and suit be served on all defendants without delay. The matter was adjourned till October 13 for hearing of the motion on notice.
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