Restraining Order Against PENGASSAN Over Industrial Action
A National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued a restraining order against the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over its planned industrial action against Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE. The court’s decision came after an ex-parte application by Dangote Refinery, which sought to prevent any disruption to the supply of crude oil and gas to the company.
Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim, who presided over the case, ruled that the balance of convenience was in favor of the Applicant, as the continuation of the threatened industrial action would irreparably damage the business of Dangote Refinery and undermine the provision of essential services to the Nigerian public. The judge emphasized the importance of preserving industrial peace and safeguarding the continuous provision of essential services pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The application was filed by George Ibrahim from Ogwu James Onoja law firm in Abuja, seeking an interim injunction to restrain the defendants, including Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), from cutting crude and gas supply to Dangote Refinery. The motion also requested the court to stop any industrial action aimed at crippling operations, blocking access roads, or disrupting the refinery’s activities.
Ibrahim argued that Dangote Refinery is a duly licensed petroleum production and distribution company, engaged in refining and producing petroleum and petrochemical products for general public consumption in Nigeria. He highlighted the company’s role in providing essential services critical to the Nigerian economy and the well-being of the public. Additionally, he noted that recent incidents of sabotage by some employees had raised health and safety concerns, leading to a re-organisation exercise that resulted in the disengagement of some staff. This was communicated to all employees through a memo dated September 25, 2025.
The court granted the restraining order and directed that it be served on the defendants forthwith, together with the motion on notice. The order was set to subsist for seven days only, with the matter adjourned to October 13 for the hearing of the motion on notice.
Reconciliatory Meeting Drags On
The fresh peace meeting convened by the Federal Government to resolve the rift between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report. The meeting, attended by the leadership of PENGASSAN led by its President, Festus Osifo, and representatives of Dangote Refinery, aimed to end the dispute.
The union leaders were represented by the General-Secretary of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nuhu Toro, while the Minister of Labour and Employment, Maigari Dingyadi, led other government officials. Daily Trust reported that the federal government had summoned the leadership of PENGASSAN and the management of Dangote Refinery to an emergency meeting over the ongoing rift between the two parties.
However, the meeting, which was initially scheduled for 2:00pm, started at about 3:50pm due to the late arrival of key stakeholders. It later moved into a closed-door session. Dingyadi stated that what was happening was dear to the economy and the security of the country, noting that PENGASSAN was on strike.
Hours after the meeting began, a shouting match could be heard from the conference room where the meeting was being held. A source who was part of the meeting revealed that representatives of Dangote Refinery insisted it would be hard to bring those who had been eased out back to the company. The source added that the sacked workers were described as saboteurs by the Dangote Refinery representative, which angered the labor leaders.
NLC Places Other Unions on Red Alert
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has commenced mobilization of its affiliate unions, emphasizing that it would join forces to fight the company for violating labor laws. In an internal memo signed by the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, the organization accused the Dangote Group of violating Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, ILO Conventions 87 and 98, and treating national labor laws with contempt.
The memo stated that the ongoing battle with PENGASSAN and NUPENG is merely a symptom of a deeper issue—a capitalist pathology of union-busting, worker enslavement, and gross impunity. It called for total mobilization of all unions and workers, urging them to prepare for a vigorous and comprehensive unionization of all workers within every Dangote Group facility.
The NLC also demanded that Dangote Refinery unconditionally respect the right of every worker to freely join a union of their choice, cease all forms of intimidation, victimisation, and union-busting activities, and submit to the authority of national labor laws and institutions.
Each union was instructed to set up an Action Mobilisation Committee and liaise directly with the NLC National Secretariat within the next 72 hours to coordinate strategy, logistics, and communication. Unity of purpose and action was deemed non-negotiable.
