The National Industrial Court in Abuja has restrained the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association from embarking on any strike action that could disrupt operations at the Dangote Refinery.
Justice E. D. Subilim issued the interim order on Wednesday while ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Limited, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Limited. The applicants, represented by George Ibrahim (SAN), sought protection against industrial action they argued could cripple their businesses.
The motion, marked NICN/ABJ/279/2024, also asked the court to compel the trucking association and its members to continue petroleum haulage services to the refinery and the Nigerian public until a substantive suit is heard.
Justice Subilim granted the requests, barring NUPENG, its members and agents from any strike, and directing the trucking association to maintain services. She held that the restraining order, which will last seven days, was necessary to prevent irreparable damage and noted that the balance of convenience favoured the applicants.
The judge further explained that the applicants had provided an undertaking to cover potential damages to the defendants. A certified enrolment of the order indicated that the case file would be reassigned to another judge by the court president following the end of the vacation period.