A national court in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, has ruled in favor of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, concerning his oil refinery’s recent tussle with union truck drivers in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector.
- Nigeria’s National Industrial Court issued an interim injunction in favor of Dangote Refinery, preventing union-led industrial actions.
- The unions involved were prohibited from compelling drivers to strike or disrupting operations of the refinery and its affiliates.
- This decision was based on a motion filed due to potential significant harm to the refinery if actions persisted.
- The unions were mandated to maintain operations and service distribution until a substantive case hearing.
Abuja’s National Industrial Court has issued an interim injunction, preventing the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Direct Trucking Company Drivers Association from triggering industrial action or coercing other truck drivers into participation.
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The court also ordered union workers to desist from any attempts to obstruct any routes for Dangote’s distribution and any plans to hinder the operations of the refinery, or its partners, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Ltd.
The decision resulted from an ex parte motion filed by George Ibrahim (SAN), the refinery’s attorney.
In pronouncing the decision, the judge noted that the Dangote Refinery could incur severe and permanent damage if the plea was denied.
Temporary restraining orders were thus imposed for seven days while a motion on notice was being heard.
As reported by The Punch, Justice Subilim, who issued the verdict, further directed that the respondents be duly issued with the move on notice and any supporting documentation within the same timeframe.
He further stated that because the court’s vacation jurisdiction expires on September 23, the subject should be sent to the President of the National Industrial Court for reassignment to another judge who would hear the main case.
Previously, Dangote’s attorney, Ibrahim, sought interim orders prohibiting NUPENG and their representatives, agents, or members from engaging in any industrial action that may disrupt refinery operations.
The refinery’s legal counsel also asked the court to order the tanker drivers to keep supplying petroleum products to the refinery’s partners, notably MRS, and the wider Nigerian public until the motion on notice is decided.
In support of the application, an affidavit sworn by Ahmed Hashem, Group General Manager for Government and Strategic Relations at the refinery, included a commitment that the refinery would pay compensation if the injunction later turned out to be wrongly granted.
After going through each argument, the judge found that there was a genuine issue for the court to address, that granting the order would benefit the refinery, and that not doing so may result in substantial damage.
The judge then ordered that NUPENG and the Drivers Association refrain from initiating or supporting any strike action that might impair the operations of Dangote Refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, or MRS Oil and Gas Company Ltd until the next hearing.
“NPENG must refrain from initiating or compelling the Drivers Association to participate in any strike designed to cripple or frustrate the refinery’s operations,” Justice Subilim stated.
“The Drivers Association is restrained from joining or continuing with any planned industrial action against the refinery or its affiliates.
Both unions must maintain petroleum trucking services to ensure a steady supply pending the hearing of the substantive case,” the judge added.
Dangote and NUPENG
The Dangote Refinery found itself in a brief stalemate with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over worker union rights.
NUPENG accused the refinery of stopping its tanker drivers and other employees from joining recognized unions, and as a result, embarked on a strike that lasted a day.
NUPENG’s grievances were addressed as the refinery, which had initially refuted the allegations, promised to reach a middle ground after a high-level meeting involving both parties and government officials.
However, a new scandal emerged after NUPENG claimed that Dangote instructed drivers to remove its stickers from vehicles.
NUPENG also called out Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, a Dangote Group official, for flying over the refinery by helicopter and calling on the Navy in an alleged move to intimidate union officials.
