Court Restrains PENGASSAN, NNPC, Others from Cutting Oil, Gas Supply to Dangote Refinery

•Defiant union leaders urge members to continue strike 

•Industrial action grounds activities at NNPC, NUPRC, NMDPRA, others

• NACCIMA, Peter Obi call for dialogue to protect Nigeria’s economy 

•NLC backs PENGASSAN’s action, puts members on red alert

Emmanuel Addeh, Chuks Okocha, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Alex Enumah in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos

Justice Emmanuel Sublim of a National Industrial Court in Abuja yesterday temporarily restrained the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) from embarking on its planned industrial action against Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.

This happened even as the strike action embarked upon by PENGASSAN yesterday grounded business activities in key public oil and gas offices, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Abuja.

Also, the National President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. Jani Ibrahim, has expressed concern over the nationwide strike threatened by PENGASSAN over their dispute with the Dangote Refinery, urging all parties in the dispute to resort to dialogue.

Similarly,the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi,  called for an urgent resolution of the dispute.

But despite the court order, PENGASSAN said that it will go on with the nationwide strike embarked upon to protest alleged anti- labour practices, stressing that it had not received any court papers urging it to halt the industrial action.

The strike followed a directive at the weekend by the union’s National Executive Council (NEC)  to its members. Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, had appealed to the union to reconsider its industrial action in the interest of peace.

However, Justice Sublim in a ruling on an exparte application on Monday, specifically restrained the defendants which included NNPC, NMDPRA and the NUPRC from cutting crude and gas supply to the Dangote Refinery.

In granting the application, the court held that going by the submissions of applicant’s lawyer, Mr George Ibrahim (SAN) as well as the affidavit deposed in support of the application, he was convinced that irreparable damage may be occasioned if the necessary orders were not granted.

He accordingly made an order restraining PENGASSAN from proceeding with its planned strike over its dispute with the applicant. Justice Sublim also ordered the NNPC, NMDPRA and NUPRC from giving effect to the directive of PENGASSAN to cut crude and gas supply to Dangote Refinery.

The court ordered service of its restraining order as well as the suit on all the defendants with immediate effect and adjourned till October 13, for hearing of the motion on notice.

In the supporting affidavit deposed to by the Group General Manager Government and Strategic Relations, Mr Ahmed Hashem, the applicant alleged that of recent there had been incidents of sabotage by some employees of the plaintiff at its plant which sprang up issues of grave health concern and safety of human lives.

He said following this, the management came to an irresistible conclusion that there should be re-organisation in the plant “which led to relieving some of its staff of their employment and same was communicated to all staff by a memo or circular dated 25th September, 2025”.

He noted that the next day an online publication reported that the said staff were laid off by the Claimant because they joined the 1st Defendant’s union.

Hashem noted that the management of the Dangote Refinery by a press statement refuted the said report and explained in clear terms that the claimant was not averse to its members unionising as that is their constitutional right but however clarified that the Claimant has over 3,000 Nigerians in its workforce and that only a negligible number of staff were affected by the re-organisation of the plant as a result of sabotage and safety concerns.

“That by a letter dated September 26, 2025 and circulated online the 1st Defendant through its General Secretary, Comrade Lamumba Ighotemu Okugbawa wrote to the Minister of Petroleum, Gas and warned that the 1st Defendant and its members were going to take action that would force the Claimant to its knees if the Claimant fails to recall the affected staff which was described in the said letter as over 800.

“That irrespective of the explanation offered by the Claimant in Exhibit DR3, the 1st Defendant became more provoked and directed its Executives and Members in the licensees of the 2nd – 4th Defendants through whom the Claimant accesses crude and gas for its plant to stop supplying gas to the Claimant.

“That the 2nd – 4th Defendants are on standby to carry out the directives of the 1st Defendant through their agents and licensees as mentioned in Exhibit DR6 with a view to stopping the supply of gas and crude oil to the Claimant in order to halt its business and operation as threatened unless the Honourable Court intervenes.

“That the 1st Defendant is going to make good its threat to shut down operations of the Claimant knowing the strength of its membership across the country unless the Honourable Court intervenes.

“That the Claimant’s plant was constructed with over $20 billion by its promoters to solve the energy problem of Nigeria that has been lingering for decades and has been sailing with good results to consumer satisfaction and have been making significant contribution to the economy of Nigeria, but the 1st Defendant if allowed to make good its threat will undoubtedly plunge Nigeria into the dark days of energy dearth and crisis and again, jeopardise the livelihood of the Nigerian’s end users and consumers and negatively impact on the economy.

“That one of the major setbacks of having a functional refinery such as the Claimant in the past is because of the negative activities of Trade Unions such as the 1st Defendant who for self-gains and aggrandisement have diverted the objectives of Trade Union which is to protect the interest of its members in terms of wages and collective bargaining of employment term to that of tasking customers for loading and offloading amongst others thereby raising the cost of products accessed by the end users and consumers who are largely Nigerians, contrary to the objectives of the government for granting licenses”, the applicant submitted.

The senior lawyer submitted that unless the court intervenes, the 1st Defendant, its members and protégées in the services of the 2nd-4th Defendant would carry out their threats of embarking on industrial action thereby crippling the operations of the Claimant as well as the economy.

“That unless the Honourable Court intervenes in this matter, irreparable damage will be done by the Defendants to the Claimant with a ripple effect of untold hardship being meted on the populace thereby causing refined scarcity of petroleum products for consumers”, he added.

He further submitted that the balance of convenience is in favour of the applicant as the continuation of the halt of crude/gas supply to the Claimant and the planned strike would irreparably damage its business and cripple the provision of essential services to the Nigerian public.

The applicant also undertook to be bound in damages should the order of interim injunction this court grant turns round to be frivolous and there is disclosed verifiable loss suffered by the respondents.

Among the reliefs sought which was granted by the court included an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st Defendant/Respondent, its members … from calling or directing the halt of crude/Gas supply to the Claimant under any guise and/or embarking on any industrial action against the Claimant/Applicant with a view to crippling, blocking roads or obstructing the flow of vehicular movement, shutting down operations of the Claimant or licensees of the 2nd to 4th Defendants named in the 1st Defendant Directives dated September 26, 2025 or by any means frustrating the businesses/activities of the Claimant/Applicant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on notice.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the 2nd – 4th Defendants/ Respondents, their employees …. from giving effect to the directives of the 1st Defendant to halt the supply of crude/gas to the Claimant/Applicant or joining, continuing, embarking on, or in any manner participating in the planned industrial action of the 1st Defendant/Respondent and its affiliates and cronies or any other strike whatsoever against the Claimant/Applicant with a view to frustrating her businesses and operations pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice

Also, the President of NACCIMA, Dr. Jani Ibrahim, has expressed concern over the nationwide strike threat. Ibrahim described the strike  as a clear and present danger to Nigeria’s economy, which could disrupt energy supply, paralyse transportation and manufacturing, and weaken public services across the country if it is not nipped in the bud.

He said: “We call on the federal government, PENGASSAN, and Dangote Refinery management to return to the negotiation table immediately.

“The looming strike over the Dangote-PENGASSAN dispute is a clear and present danger to Nigeria’s economy.

“NACCIMA, on behalf of the business community, appeals for urgent intervention, industrial peace, and prioritisation of national interest.”

According to him, “a nationwide shutdown in the energy sector at this time would be a crippling blow to Nigeria’s stabilising economy.”

He also said: The business community was alarmed at the possible consequences for jobs, inflation, and investors’ confidence,” adding that “dialogue is not optional; it is urgent and necessary.”  

Ibrahim stated that “industrial peace and constructive dialogue are critical to protect livelihoods, restore investor confidence, and safeguard Nigeria’s refining capacity.”

He added that NACCIMA was ready to support and, if necessary, facilitate dialogue in the national interest.

For his part, Peter Obi,  expressed concern over the nationwide strike declared by PENGASSAN.

Reacting to the development, Obi, in a post on X, faulted the government’s handling of the situation, warning that the industrial action was already worsening the plight of Nigerians and hurting the economy.

According to Obi, “I am worried about the lack of response by the Government to the threat and eventual commencement of a strike by PENGASSAN, which is already having a very adverse impact on Nigerian citizens and the Nigerian economy,”

He urged the federal government to act decisively, stressing that the crisis must be resolved in a way that safeguards the interests of all stakeholders.

“I strongly appeal to the federal government to intervene quickly to resolve this dispute in a manner that protects the interests of the Nigerian people, Nigerian workers, Nigerian investors, and the economy at large. The protection of these interests in a win-win manner is the primary responsibility of any responsible Government,” he added.

Obi further warned that labour disputes should be addressed early to avoid prolonged crises.

“The federal government must learn to nip in the bud the labour crisis that has the potential of creating further suffering for the already struggling citizens of our dear country,” he said.

Still on the matter, the strike action embarked upon by PENGASSAN yesterday grounded business activities at key public oil and gas offices in Abuja. The organisations most impacted included the NNPC, the NUPRC, and the NMDPRA.

PENGASSAN began the industrial action on Monday in response to the alleged mass dismissal of over 800 Nigerian workers by Dangote Refinery, which it alleged were replaced with over 2,000 Indian workers.

Aside from the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja which was under lock and key, the NMDPRA headquarters in Abuja’s Central Business District also witnessed a total shutdown, while the same level of total compliance was achieved at the NNPC headquarters.

PENGASSAN Chairman at the NMDPRA, Tony Iziogba, told journalists that the exercise had recorded “100 per cent compliance,” with both staff and visitors denied entry, adding that the same level of compliance was achieved at the NNPC headquarters and other related agencies.

PENGASSAN had directed all members nationwide to stop work from 12:01 am on September 29, 2025, while those in field locations were instructed to shut down operations from 6:00 am on September 28 and embark on a continuous prayer session.

General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, in the directive, alleged that the Dangote Refinery violated Nigerian labour laws and International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards by sacking workers for union membership, and replacing them with expatriates.

“All processes involving gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery should be halted immediately,” the resolution declared. “All IOC (International Oil Companies) branches must ramp down gas production and supply to Dangote Refinery and petrochemicals,” PENGASSAN added.

However, the union’s directive to halt crude oil and gas supplies to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has sent shockwaves through the energy sector, with oil marketers warning of severe disruptions in fuel distribution.

But as of yesterday, all the filling stations in Abuja were still operational, as the shutdown declared by PENGASSAN did not affect them.

However, the outcome of the federal government’s meeting with the unionists was still being awaited at the time of putting this report together.

Meanwhile, the  Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its members nationwide to be on alert to join in the strike to protest against alleged unfair labour practices by the  Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Company.

In a memo calling for mobilisation and preparation for industrial action against the Dangote Group, NLC said each branch union, “is 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”.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who signed the letter said the workers should consider it as a formal and urgent request in response to the protracted and deliberate anti-worker crusade being waged by the Dangote Group against the Nigerian working class.

NLC said it will start mobilising its members and resources for a full-scale, decisive engagement against the Dangote Group’s anti-labour stance.

It said that the target of organised labour will be to ensure that Dangote Group unconditionally respects the right of every worker to freely join a union of their choice and  cease all forms of intimidation, victimisation, and union-busting activities.

The letter stated:  “The ongoing battle with PENGASSAN and NUPENG is merely a symptom of a deeper sickness; a capitalist pathology of union-busting, worker enslavement, and gross impunity that defines the Group’s industrial relations strategy.

“The Dangote Group has operated for too long as a state within a state, flouting Section 40 of our Constitution, violating ILO Conventions 87 and 98, and treating our national labour laws with contempt.

“Their facilities are not workplaces but plantations of exploitation, where the dignity of the worker is systematically crushed to maximise profit for the few. The time for pleading and endless, fruitless dialogue is over. The moment for decisive, collective action is now.

“Consequently, we have resolved as follows: “To request for total mobilisation of all unions and workers. All aforementioned affiliate unions are hereby placed on immediate and full alert. 

“You are requested to commence, with immediate effect, preparation for a vigorous and comprehensive unionisation of all workers within every Dangote Group facility falling under your jurisdiction. This is a strategic priority”.

But despite the court order, PENGASSAN said that it will go on with the nationwide strike embarked upon to protest alleged anti- labour practices by the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals.

In a statement issued last night by PENGASSAN General Secretary, Okugbawa, the association said it has not received any court order from the Industrial Court for the cessation of the strike.

 He said: “On behalf of the national leadership of our great Association, I sincerely wish to commend you all for the courage we exhibited today in standing up for what is right. We have just begun and victory is in sight. Our attention has been drawn to rumours making rounds on a Court injunction restraining our noble exercise. I want to unequivocally state that we have not been served anything of such.

“All comrades are therefore directed to continue with the industrial action until further instruction. Only information coming through our official channels should be regarded as authentic. Court orders or processes are served via court bailiffs and not through social media. Any further clarification you need should be sought from higher organs of the association.”