Courtroom Stops NUPENG, Trucking Union from Deliberate Strike, Picketing of Dangote Refinery

The Nationwide Industrial Courtroom has issued an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Pure Gasoline Employees (NUPENG) and the Direct Trucking Firm Drivers Affiliation from embarking on any industrial motion or picketing towards the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim, ruling on an ex parte movement filed by Dangote Refinery’s counsel, George Ibrahim (SAN), additionally barred the unions from obstructing public roads or disrupting operations at Dangote Refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, and MRS Oil and Gasoline Firm Ltd.

The court docket sitting in Abuja Wednesday, held that irreparable harm may happen if the injunction was not granted. The restraining order, legitimate for seven days, is to stay in impact pending the listening to of a movement on discover.

Justice Subilim directed that the unions be served inside the week and ordered the case file transferred to the court docket president for reassignment, as the holiday jurisdiction ends on September 23.

Dangote Refinery had approached the court docket and sought orders restraining NUPENG and the drivers’ affiliation, their members, brokers, and representatives from partaking in industrial motion aimed toward crippling refinery operations.

The Refinery additional requested the court docket to compel the drivers to proceed petroleum trucking providers to the refinery, MRS, and the Nigerian public pending the willpower of the movement on discover.

Mr. Ibrahim argued that the unions’ actions contravened Part 40 of the 1999 Structure, which ensures freedom of affiliation, and Part 12(4) of the Commerce Union Act. He maintained that the court docket had jurisdiction to intervene within the dispute.

Within the supporting affidavit, the refinery pledged to pay damages if the injunction is later deemed unjustified. The court docket discovered that the steadiness of comfort favoured the refinery and {that a} critical challenge was at stake.

In the meantime, Dangote Refinery reiterated its help for voluntary unionism, stating it respects staff’ rights to hitch or abstain from union membership. It additionally dismissed monopoly claims, noting that over 30 refinery licences have been issued to different personal operators.

NUPENG, nevertheless, accused the refinery of violating a latest decision on staff’ rights and intimidating union officers. The union has positioned its members on pink alert and referred to as for presidency and civil society intervention.