₦airaland Forum

The National Industrial Court has granted an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) from blocking Nigerian roads, or frustrating and shutting down the operations of Dangote refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Limited, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Limited.

The court also restrained NUPENG and other drivers’ associations from embarking on an industrial action or compelling other truck drivers to join in its industrial action.

Emmanuel Subilim, the presiding judge, delivered the ruling on Wednesday following an ex parte motion filed by George Ibrahim, the refinery’s lawyer.

Granting the ex parte, the judge said ‘irreparable damage” may be caused to Dangote refinery if the necessary orders were not granted.

Ibrahim approached the court with an ex parte motion filed alongside the originating processes and a motion on notice, dated and filed September 15.

The lawyer prayed the court to direct NUPENG and its members to continue petroleum trucking services to the refinery, MRS, and the Nigerian public pending the determination of the motion on notice.

In an affidavit deposed by Ahmed Hashem, the group’s general manager, government and strategic relations of the refinery, the applicants provided an undertaking of damages to the organisation if the court ultimately rules against the restraining request.

After hearing Ibrahim, the judge held that “this court, having satisfied itself that there is a serious issue to be tried, that the balance of convenience tilts in favour of the Applicants (Dangote Refinery), that irreparable damage may be occasioned if the necessary orders are not granted, and that the Applicants have given an undertaking as to damages”.

He ruled that NUPENG ought to be restrained, granting interim injunction on the refinery’s request.


‘RESTRAINING ORDER TO LAST FOR SEVEN DAYS’

The judge noted that the restraining orders would remain in effect for seven days.

He further directed the applicants to serve the respondents with the motion on notice and all accompanying processes in the suit within seven days from the date of the order.

The judge also noted that the court’s authority to sit during the ongoing vacation would expire on September 23.

Consequently, he ordered that the case file be forwarded to the president of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria for reassignment to another judge, who will hear and determine the motion on notice as well as the substantive case on its merits.

On September 11, NUPENG placed its members on red alert for the resumption of its nationwide industrial action — two days after it suspended its strike action, in protest against Dangote refinery’s “anti-union practices”.

The union said it made the decision after Sayyu Dantata, the owner of Mrs Oil, allegedly instructed his truck drivers, who had been NUPENG-Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) members for several years, to remove union stickers from their trucks.

NUPENG said the action led to an altercation between the truck drivers and its officials.

fmlala:
NUPENG are trying to force themselves on Nigerians. There is freedom of association in the Nigerian Constitution, so anyone can decide to be for them or not.

youngsahito:
He reach rich man turn, una say it is not compulsory to join any union. Alot of market women in Lagos are always forced to join one union or another so as to gada money for the iyaloja and baba loja general. Now a court is saying it is against the constitution

bixton:
Really!!!
Freedom of association and yet when a Muslim converts to Christian, that individual is persecuted by those whom that individual no longer shares beliefs with anymore.....

erad:
Where did you read from all that was written that it's not compulsory to join a union? even though it's not.

Nobody should be able to force anyone to join any union. Even the Supreme Court ruled against the Nigerian Medical Association on a similar matter where they were trying to prevent a doctor that didn't want to be a part of the union from practicing.

Unions are never compulsory. The reason market women can be forced is because most of them are not educated and that's part of the reasons some of us encourage small businesses to register their business. The amount you'll pay to register your business can't be compared to the rubbish the useless union will put you through with no benefit whatsoever.

PureFace1:
NUPENG is having issues with a private company but they want to punish and blackmail the whole country because they have the power to.

This is how black people think what concerns Nigerians with their shenanigans with Dangote unless it the Federal government they are fighting against they shouldn't even be thinking of going on strike to punish the whole country.

tnerro1:
Are you saying if you register your small business, you will not be forced to join a union in the market?

WizardOfNG:
What kind of comparison is this? The guy is talking about workers freedom to associate with NUPENG or not, which is correct, and you are talking about religion that is a matter of faith and a totally different thing.

Fundamental issue here is that NUPENG is a gang of self-serving blackmailers and mercenaries with hidden agenda. This is not about the welfare of Dangote Refinery Drivers/workers.

They are acting in a dictatorial and lawless manner simply because they wish to be able to blackmail Dangote at will, for 'egunje', once his workers are in their union and compelled to obey their strike order.

erad:
Where did you read from all that was written that it's not compulsory to join a union? even though it's not.

Nobody should be able to force anyone to join any union. Even the Supreme Court ruled against the Nigerian Medical Association on a similar matter where they were trying to prevent a doctor that didn't want to be a part of the union from practicing.

Unions are never compulsory. The reason market women can be forced is because most of them are not educated and that's part of the reasons some of us encourage small businesses to register their business. The amount you'll pay to register your business can't be compared to the rubbish the useless union will put you through with no benefit whatsoever.

bixton:
Really!!!
Freedom of association and yet when a Muslim converts to Christian, that individual is persecuted by those whom that individual no longer shares beliefs with anymore.....

Northernblood7:
Our judges are very stupid. I don't support NUPENG but these judges are not intelligent at all.

I blame Universities that keep churning out these quack judges

Misterone:
Oga, he is talking about our constitution, not some opinion or religion. The constitution allows for freedom of association but enforcement is a different ball game.