Justice Emmanuel Subilim of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, has issued an interim order restraining the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from proceeding with its planned industrial action against Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.
Ruling on an ex parte application filed by Dangote Refinery, Justice Subilim also barred the defendants — including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission — from cutting crude oil and gas supplies to the refinery.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, George Ibrahim, who argued the application, secured the interim order. He told the court that the claimant is licensed to produce, operate, and distribute petroleum and petrochemical products for public consumption, providing essential services to the Nigerian economy.
Ibrahim added that recent incidents of sabotage by some employees at the refinery had raised serious safety and public health concerns. Consequently, the company decided to reorganise its operations, leading to the dismissal of certain employees, a decision communicated via an internal memo on September 25, 2025.
He further explained that on 26 September, reports surfaced online claiming the dismissals were linked to union membership. Dangote Refinery refuted these claims, clarifying in a press statement that it recognises employees’ constitutional right to unionise and that over 3,000 Nigerians remain in its workforce. Only a small number of staff were affected by the restructuring, he said, due to issues of sabotage and safety.
Ibrahim also informed the court that on September 26, PENGASSAN, through its General Secretary, Comrade Lamumba Ighotemu Okugbawa, wrote to the Minister of Petroleum and Gas, threatening to take action that would “bring the company to its knees” if the affected employees — claimed to be over 800 — were not reinstated.
In his ruling, Justice Subilim held that the balance of convenience favoured the claimant, as any continuation of the threatened strike could cause irreparable harm to its operations and disrupt essential services to the public.
He stated that restraining the respondents was in the interest of justice and necessary to maintain industrial peace pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
Justice Subilim granted the restraining order for seven days and directed that it be served on all defendants immediately, along with a motion on notice.
The court fixed October 13 for the hearing of the substantive motion.