On Monday, the National Industrial Court in Abuja issued an interim order restraining the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from continuing its nationwide strike against Dangote Cement Plc, including disrupting power supply to the company’s cement plant.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim granted the order following an ex parte motion filed by the company’s lawyer, George Ibrahim, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The defendants named in the suit include PENGASSAN, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
According to Vanguard, the judge ruled that the continuation of the strike would irreparably harm the cement plant’s operations and disrupt essential services for Nigerians. The court prioritized maintaining industrial peace and ordered the immediate service of the restraining order and suit to all defendants. The interim order will last seven days, with the case adjourned to October 13 for further hearing.
PENGASSAN had instructed its members to cut power supply to the cement plant starting midnight on September 28, protesting the alleged dismissal of unionized workers and accusing Dangote Cement of anti-labor practices and discrimination against local employees. The union also claimed the company spread misinformation to justify its actions.
In response, Dangote Cement called PENGASSAN’s actions illegal, stating the union has no legal authority to interfere with the company’s contracts with third-party power suppliers. The company urged the federal government and security agencies to intervene, warning that PENGASSAN’s actions could significantly harm Nigeria’s economy and its citizens.
