|By Adejumo Adekunle
A coalition of civil society organisations has warned the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to shelve its planned strike against the Dangote Refinery, cautioning that such action could derail Nigeria’s fragile economic recovery and endanger critical infrastructure.
The Coalition for the Defence of Economic Rights (CODER), in a statement issued after an emergency meeting on Monday, urged the union to pursue dialogue rather than confrontation.
CODER’s President, Comrade Babajide Oresanya, stressed that labour disputes must not be allowed to jeopardise the country’s growth.
“The refinery is not just a private venture, it is a strategic national asset with far-reaching implications for energy security, jobs, and the broader economy. To hold it hostage for union politics is unacceptable,” Oresanya declared.
The warning came just hours after the National Industrial Court in Abuja granted an interim order halting PENGASSAN’s planned industrial action. Justice Emmanuel Sublim ruled that the strike could inflict irreparable harm on the economy and directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending a substantive hearing scheduled for October 13.
CODER welcomed the ruling, describing it as a safeguard for stability. The group called on stakeholders—including the federal government and regulators—to ensure strict compliance with the court order.
“The court has spoken. Any attempt to flout its directive would amount to contempt and risk escalating the situation. Nigerians are watching, and what the country needs at this moment is stability, not disruption,” Oresanya warned.
The coalition also challenged PENGASSAN to substantiate its claims with verifiable evidence rather than unproven allegations. It further commended the federal government for swiftly engaging the union alongside the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
CODER concluded by appealing for calm and reaffirming its faith in the judicial process, insisting that constructive engagement remains the only path forward.
