Court Stops PENGASSAN Nationwide Strike Against Dangote Refinery
By Patience Ikpeme
The National Industrial Court (NIC), sitting in Abuja, on Monday issued an interim order restraining the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from continuing its nationwide industrial action against the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.
Justice Emmanuel Sublim, who presided over the matter, granted the order after determining that the proposed strike, which was intended to disrupt the refinery’s operations by cutting crude and gas supplies, was “capable of causing serious damage to the nation’s economy.” Consequently, the court ordered the Association to cease the strike forthwith.
The court’s decision was consequent upon an ex-parte application filed by the Refinery’s counsel, Mr. George Ibrahim, SAN.
In the same vein, the court equally restrained key regulatory bodies—the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC)—from enforcing any directive issued by PENGASSAN to halt crude oil and gas supply to the refinery.
In his ruling, Justice Sublim said the court agreed with the Refinery’s submission that the strike could cause irreparable damage if not promptly addressed. He stressed the need to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive motion.
The court further directed that the restraining order and suit be served on all defendants without delay. The matter has been adjourned till October 13 for the hearing of the motion on notice.
