Court Blocks PENGASSAN From Cutting Gas Supply to Dangote Refinery Amid Labour Dispute

The National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued a temporary order stopping the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and other regulatory bodies from cutting crude oil and gas supply to the multi-billion-dollar Dangote Petroleum Refinery. The order, granted by Justice Emmanuel Subilim, followed an ex parte application filed by Dangote Refinery after the union threatened to shut down supplies over alleged anti-labour practices.

Counsel to the refinery, George Ibrahim, argued that the company faced imminent sabotage and disruption of operations if the union’s directive to halt supplies was carried out. He told the court that the refinery, which provides essential energy services to millions of Nigerians, had recently undertaken a re-organisation that led to the dismissal of a small group of employees over safety and sabotage concerns. The move sparked backlash from PENGASSAN, which accused the company of targeting staff who joined the union.

In a letter circulated on September 26, PENGASSAN warned that unless the refinery reinstated the affected workers—alleged to be more than 800—it would mobilize its members across the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and other regulatory agencies to cut off supplies. Dangote Refinery, however, refuted the union’s claims, insisting that the restructuring exercise was unrelated to union membership and affected only a negligible number of its over 3,000 Nigerian employees.

Justice Subilim ruled that the balance of convenience lay with the refinery, warning that any disruption to operations would not only harm the company’s $20 billion investment but also destabilize Nigeria’s energy supply and economy. He therefore restrained PENGASSAN, NNPCL, the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority, and the Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission from taking any action to stop supply pending further hearings.

The restraining order, valid for seven days, is expected to preserve industrial peace until the substantive motion is heard on October 13. Industry watchers note that the outcome of this case could set the tone for how labour unions and Nigeria’s largest private refinery manage future disputes, with billions of dollars and national energy security hanging in the balance.

Source: The sun