The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) is pressing ahead with its protest against Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE despite an order from the National Industrial Court in Abuja has restraining the union from embarking on a planned strike.

Justice Emmanuel Subilim, ruling on an ex parte application filed by the refinery, ordered the union and other defendants—including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission—not to halt crude oil and gas supplies to the facility.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, George Ibrahim, who argued the application, told the court that Dangote Refinery is a licensed petroleum production and distribution company that provides essential services to the economy and the public. He said recent acts of sabotage by some employees at the plant had raised serious safety concerns, prompting management to reorganise operations. This, he explained, led to the dismissal of certain workers, a decision communicated in a circular dated 25 September 2025.

However, despite the court order, PENGASSAN has vowed to continue its strike. In a memo signed by General Secretary Okugbawa, the union dismissed reports of a valid injunction, saying it had not been formally served with any order.

According to Ibrahim, online reports on 26 September alleged that the company had sacked Nigerian workers because they joined PENGASSAN. However, the refinery quickly denied the claims in a press statement, stressing that it respected workers’ constitutional right to unionise. The company clarified that it employs over 3,000 Nigerians, and only a negligible number were affected by the restructuring, which was triggered by sabotage and safety concerns.

Ibrahim further told the court that on the same day, PENGASSAN’s General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Ighotemu Okugbawa, wrote to the Minister of Petroleum and Gas, warning that unless the dismissed staff – described by the union as numbering more than 800—were reinstated, the union would take action “to bring the claimant to its knees.”

In his ruling, Justice Subilim held that the balance of convenience lay with the refinery, as the continuation of the strike would irreparably harm its business and disrupt the provision of essential services to the Nigerian public. He ordered the respondents to suspend any industrial action for seven days, pending the hearing of the substantive motion on 13 October.

The Union said: “Our attention has been drawn to rumours circulating about a court injunction restraining our noble exercise. I want to unequivocally state that we have not been served anything of such. Court orders or processes are served via court bailiff and not through social media.”

The union instructed members nationwide to continue with the strike until further notice, warning that only communication through official channels should be regarded as authentic.

“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,” the statement read.

Commending members for their resolve, Okugbawa declared: “We have just begun, and victory is in sight.”