COURT BLOCKS NUPENG AND TRUCK DRIVERS’ ASSOCIATION FROM STRIKING AGAINST DANGOTE REFINERY

The National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued a restraining order preventing the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association from embarking on strike action against Dangote Petroleum Refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Limited, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Limited. Justice E.D. Subilim granted the interim injunction on Wednesday, ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by the three companies, represented by senior lawyer George Ibrahim SAN.

The court order temporarily bars NUPENG, its members, agents, and privies from initiating any industrial action aimed at disrupting the refinery’s operations. Similarly, the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association and its members are restrained from joining or participating in any strike action orchestrated by NUPENG against the applicants. “The restraining order shall last for seven days,” Justice Subilim ruled, emphasizing the need to prevent “irreparable damage” to the refinery’s operations.

Justice Subilim noted that there is a “serious issue to be tried” and the balance of convenience favors the applicants, Dangote Refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Limited, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Limited, given their undertaking as to damages. The judge directed that the respondents be served with court processes within seven days and ordered the case file to be reassigned to another judge after the court’s vacation period ends on September 23.

Dangote Refinery had argued that the planned strike would contravene Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 12(4) of the Trade Union Act. Ahmed Hashem, Group General Manager for Government and Strategic Relations at Dangote Refinery, provided an affidavit undertaking to pay damages if the injunction is later found to be wrongly granted.

NUPENG had previously accused Dangote Refinery of anti-labour practices, alleging intimidation tactics against union members. However, Dangote Refinery maintains it respects workers’ rights to join or not join unions, emphasizing principles of voluntarism for peaceful industrial relations.