National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued an interim order stopping Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association from blocking roads or disrupting operations at Dangote Refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Limited, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Limited.
Gatekeepers News reports that Justice E.D. Subilim delivered the ruling on Wednesday after considering an ex parte motion filed by Dangote Refinery’s counsel, George Ibrahim (SAN).
Ibrahim argued that urgent intervention was needed to prevent irreparable damage to refinery operations, stressing that the union’s actions violated both the 1999 Constitution and the Trade Union Act.
Ahmed Hashem, Group General Manager of Government and Strategic Relations at Dangote Refinery, also supported the motion through an affidavit, assuring that the company would pay damages if the injunction was later found to be wrongly granted.
Justice Subilim ruled that the balance of convenience favored the refinery and granted an interim injunction restraining NUPENG, its members, and affiliates from embarking on or compelling others to join any strike that could obstruct vehicular movement or disrupt business activities. The same order was extended to the Drivers Association, stopping it from participating in or supporting any planned industrial action.
The restraining orders will last for seven days, after which the case file will be reassigned to another judge for further hearing.
