The National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued an interim injunction barring the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association from initiating industrial action or coercing other truck drivers to participate. The ruling, delivered by Justice E.D. Subilim on Wednesday, also prohibits the unions from blocking roads, disrupting, or halting operations at Dangote Refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Ltd.
The injunction, granted following an ex parte motion by Dangote Refinery’s counsel, George Ibrahim (SAN), aims to prevent irreparable damage to the refinery’s operations. The orders, effective for seven days, will remain in place pending the hearing of a motion on notice. Justice Subilim directed that the respondents be served with the motion and related documents within seven days. As the court’s vacation period ends on September 23, the case file will be forwarded to the President of the National Industrial Court for reassignment to another judge for the substantive hearing.
Ibrahim sought the court’s intervention to restrain NUPENG, the Drivers Association, their members, agents, or representatives from engaging in actions aimed at disrupting the refinery’s operations. He also requested an order compelling the drivers to continue providing petroleum trucking services to the refinery, MRS, and the public. Ibrahim argued that the unions’ actions violated Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association, and Section 12(4) of the Trade Union Act, asserting the court’s jurisdiction to address the dispute.
An affidavit by Ahmed Hashem, Group General Manager for Government and Strategic Relations at Dangote Refinery, included an undertaking to cover damages if the injunction is later deemed unjustified. Justice Subilim, after reviewing the submissions, found a serious issue to be tried, with the balance of convenience favoring the refinery and the potential for irreparable harm if the orders were not issued.
The court ordered NUPENG and the Drivers Association to refrain from initiating or joining any strike action aimed at obstructing the operations of Dangote Refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, or MRS Oil and Gas Company Ltd. NUPENG was specifically barred from compelling the Drivers Association to participate in actions designed to disrupt the refinery, while the Drivers Association was restrained from continuing any planned industrial action. Both unions were directed to maintain petroleum trucking services to ensure an uninterrupted supply pending the substantive hearing.
Dangote Refinery, in a statement issued on Saturday, emphasized its support for workers’ rights to join unions voluntarily while condemning actions that threaten employees’ safety or livelihoods. The company rejected claims of monopolistic practices, noting that over 30 refinery licenses have been issued to other private entities, such as BUA, Aradel, and Waltersmith, which are developing their facilities.
NUPENG, however, alleged that Dangote Refinery disregarded a resolution on workers’ rights, signed in the presence of three federal ministers and a Department of State Services deputy director-general. The union claimed that refinery drivers were ordered to remove union stickers from their trucks and resume loading operations, breaching agreed protocols. NUPENG further accused a Dangote Group official, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, of intimidating union officials by involving the Navy and conducting helicopter surveillance over the refinery. In response, NUPENG placed its members on high alert and urged the Federal Government, civil society, and international labor organizations to intervene.
Commissioned in 2023, Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest oil refinery, aims to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products and stabilize domestic supply. However, recent tensions between the refinery’s management and unions, with accusations of anti-labor practices countered by claims of protecting voluntary union membership, have strained industrial relations.
