NUPENG has condemned Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s comments on the PENGASSAN strike, calling them a betrayal of labour values and declaring him persona non grata among oil and gas workers.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has issued a blistering response to recent comments made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, describing his remarks as “a reprehensible assault on the rights of Nigerian workers” and “a monumental betrayal of trade union values.”
The union’s reaction followed Oshiomhole’s televised criticism of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) strike, which was launched in protest against the alleged dismissal of over 800 engineers at the Dangote Refinery for unionizing.
In a strongly worded statement signed by NUPENG President, Comrade Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, the union accused the former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President of abandoning the workers’ movement in favour of “reactionary advocacy for unconscionable capitalists.”
NUPENG Condemns “Moratorium on Unionization” Proposal
The union condemned Oshiomhole’s suggestion for a so-called “moratorium on unionization” in new companies, describing it as “an absurd and archaic proposition” that has no basis in Nigerian law or international labour standards.
The union reaffirmed that the right to unionize is constitutionally and legally protected, citing key provisions of Nigerian and international labour laws:
- Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees every person in Nigeria the right to freedom of association.
- Section 9(6) of the Labour Act prohibits any contract from excluding a worker’s union membership.
- ILO Conventions 87 and 98, both ratified by Nigeria, protect workers’ rights to unionize and bargain collectively.
- Section 31 of the Trade Unions Act protects solidarity industrial actions, such as that undertaken by PENGASSAN.
Union Questions Oshiomhole’s Credibility
NUPENG also questioned Oshiomhole’s moral authority to comment on union matters, recalling his overlapping leadership roles during his tenure as NLC President and General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN).
NUPENG Labels Oshiomhole’s Remarks “Hypocritical and Revisionist”
NUPENG further criticised Oshiomhole’s statements as hypocritical and historically revisionist, pointing out his past leadership of several strikes and his former role on the Governing Council of the ILO. The union said it was “deeply disturbing” that a former labour icon would now become an apologist for anti-union corporate practices.
The statement referenced former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s reported description of Oshiomhole as “a comrade in the morning and a politician at night,” questioning whether he still possesses any moral authority to speak on labour issues.
Oshiomhole Declared Persona Non Grata
In its most forceful declaration, NUPENG announced that Senator Adams Oshiomhole is now considered persona non grata within the ranks of Nigerian oil and gas workers.
The union urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and allied civil society organisations to take note of Oshiomhole’s “dangerous rhetoric,” which they claim is aimed at weakening workers’ resolve and empowering “the class enemy.”
Defence of PENGASSAN and Workers’ Solidarity
NUPENG defended PENGASSAN’s right to take action in solidarity with the sacked workers, insisting that “an injury to one is an injury to all” remains a foundational principle of unionism globally.
The union reaffirmed its commitment to fight for justice using every available legal and industrial tool in accordance with Nigerian laws and international labour standards.
The statement concluded with a reaffirmation of solidarity:
