The National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association from embarking on industrial action that could disrupt the operations of Dangote Refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Limited, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Limited.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim delivered the ruling on Wednesday after hearing a motion ex parte filed by the refinery’s counsel, George Ibrahim (SAN). The court barred the unions from blocking roads, compelling other truck drivers to join the strike, or taking any action that could frustrate petroleum trucking services pending further hearing.
Ibrahim, in his application filed on 15 September, urged the court to direct NUPENG to continue trucking operations to the refinery, MRS, and the Nigerian public. He argued that without the restraining order, “irreparable damage” could be caused to Dangote Refinery.
In support of the motion, Ahmed Hashem, Group General Manager for Government and Strategic Relations at the refinery, deposed that the company was willing to pay damages should the injunction later be overturned.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Subilim held that Dangote Refinery had raised “a serious issue to be tried” and that the balance of convenience tilted in its favour. He stressed that the interim order would last seven days, during which NUPENG must be served with the motion on notice and accompanying documents. The case is to be reassigned after 23 September, when the court’s vacation authority expires.
“An interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the 2nd Defendant/Respondent, its members, agents, servants, privies, representatives, assigns, or whatsoever and howsoever called from joining, continuing, further embarking on, or in any manner participating in the planned industrial action … pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice,” the judge ruled.
The ruling comes against the backdrop of a mounting crisis between Dangote Refinery and NUPENG. On 5 September, the union threatened a nationwide strike over alleged anti-union practices linked to the refinery’s newly imported Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks for direct petroleum distribution.
NUPENG, backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), accused refinery owner Aliko Dangote and MRS founder Sayyu Dantata of attempting to monopolise the downstream oil market and suppress workers’ rights.
Although the strike was suspended on 9 September following a deal brokered by the State Security Service (SSS), Finance Minister Wale Edun, and other stakeholders, tensions have since escalated.
Recently, NUPENG alleged that Dantata violated the truce by directing truck drivers to strip union stickers from their vehicles and ordering them to forcefully enter the refinery against union loading rules. The union further accused him of summoning naval personnel to disperse union officials after allegedly flying over the standoff in a helicopter.
NUPENG condemned the alleged actions as an affront to Nigerian laws and institutions and placed its members on red alert for a possible resumption of the suspended nationwide strike.
