Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has announced that it will boycott all labour-related events featuring Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
Gatekeepers News reports that this followed his criticism of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over its recent industrial action against the Dangote Refinery.
Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North in the Senate, had during an interview with Arise TV on October 3 faulted PENGASSAN’s decision to escalate its dispute with the refinery into a nationwide shutdown of oil operations, calling the move rash and unfair to other workers in the sector.
Reacting to the comments, NUPENG, in a statement jointly signed by its President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, condemned the former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president’s remarks and declared him persona non grataamong oil and gas workers.
The statement reads, “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 stated that by this declaration, it would no longer attend or lend recognition to any event in which Oshiomhole is involved, urging the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other labour-aligned organisations to take note.
NUPENG further described the senator’s comments as a betrayal of labour principles and a distortion of established labour laws, accusing him of siding with corporate interests over workers’ welfare.
It said, “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 union criticised Oshiomhole for defending the Dangote Refinery while ignoring the plight of more than 800 sacked workers, accusing him of profound historical revisionism and political amnesia.
It added, “Section 31 of the Trade Unions Act, Cap T14, LFN 2004 legally recognises 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’ remains the foundation of trade unionism worldwide.”
NUPENG also criticised Oshiomhole’s claim that the strike harmed the economy, saying his position mirrors those of anti-labour forces he once fought against.
Reaffirming its support for PENGASSAN and the dismissed workers, NUPENG said it would continue to use all lawful means to demand justice in line with national and international labour standards.
The union also advised Oshiomhole to refrain from commenting on labour issues, saying he has irretrievably lost the moral right and legitimacy before Nigerian workers, particularly in the oil and gas sector.
