The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says it will no longer participate in any labour-related event involving Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, over his recent stance on the disagreement between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote refinery.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV on October 3, Adams Oshiomole criticised PENGASSAN for escalating its disagreement with the Dangote refinery into a nationwide shutdown of oil facilities, describing the actions as hasty and unfair to other workers.
In a statement signed by Williams Akporeha, president of NUPENG, and Afolabi Olawale, general secretary of the association, NUPENG expressed disappointment in Oshiomhole’s remarks, declaring him “persona non grata”.
“In conclusion, the leadership of NUPENG hereby declares Senator Adams Oshiomhole persona non grata within the ranks of Nigerian Oil and Gas Workers for the undistinguished denunciation of the PENGASSAN strike against the unjustifiable sack of 800 Engineers as punishment for exercising the fundamental right of unionism,” the union said.
“The practical effect of our declaring Senator Oshiomhole persona non grata within the ranks of oil and gas workers in Nigeria is that henceforth, we will not participate in or lend legitimacy to any event featuring Senator Oshiomhole. The NLC, TUC and conscionable civil society organisations should kindly take notice.”
Furthermore, NUPENG described the senator’s comment as a “betrayal of labour principles” and a “distortion of established laws”.
“We witness with utter disappointment a former labour leader now transformed into a vocal advocate for corporate oppression, actively campaigning against the very rights he once championed,” the statement reads.
“His attempts to rationalize the victimization of workers for exercising their fundamental rights of association and peaceful action are not only nauseating but represent a flagrant misrepresentation of Nigerian Labour Law and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions.”
‘Oshiomhole Betrayed Workers’ Interest’
NUPENG accused Oshiomhole of ‘betraying the interests of Nigerian workers’ by ignoring the dismissal of over 800 employees by Dangote refinery while criticising PENGASSAN’s decision to shut down oil stations.
“Adams Oshiomhole’s criticism of PENGASSAN’s strike is an act of profound historical revisionism and political amnesia,” the association said.
“Section 31 of the Trade Unions Act, Cap T14, LFN 2004 legally recognizes trade disputes, including industrial actions undertaken by workers in sympathy with another group.
“PENGASSAN’s solidarity action with their members in Dangote Refinery is, therefore, a protected legal action. The principle that “an injury to one is an injury to all” is the foundational ethic of trade unionism globally.”
NUPENG said Oshiomhole’s rhetoric about “harming the wider economy” is the same argument used by every anti-labour entity “he once fought against”.
“NUPENG stands unwaveringly with PENGASSAN and the over 800 unjustly dismissed workers. We will continue to deploy every legal and industrial instrument available to us, in full compliance with Nigerian law and global labour standards, to secure justice,” the union said.
NUPENG further advised Oshiomhole to retire from commenting on labour matters, as he has “irretrievably lost the moral right and legitimacy before Nigerian workers, and particularly oil and gas workers”.
