Union Condemns Former Labor Leader’s Comments, Declares Him Persona Non Grata
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has strongly criticized Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former President of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) and current representative of Edo North, for his recent statements regarding the ongoing industrial dispute at the Dangote Refinery.
During an appearance on Arise TV last Friday, Oshiomhole questioned the decision by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to initiate a strike in response to the alleged dismissal of over 800 refinery workers. He described the industrial action as “hasty and unfair to other workers,” cautioning against using tactics that could jeopardize the employment of many while seeking justice for a few. “In protecting a particular set of workers, you should not risk the jobs of several others. The tools used in disputes must not undermine other people’s employment,” Oshiomhole asserted.
Responding in a statement released Monday and co-signed by NUPENG President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale, the union condemned Oshiomhole’s remarks as “a betrayal of the working class struggle” and accused him of misrepresenting Nigerian labor law. The statement expressed disappointment, stating, “We witness with utter disappointment a former labor leader now transformed into a vocal advocate for corporate oppression, actively campaigning against the very rights he once championed.”
NUPENG emphasized that PENGASSAN’s solidarity strike is a legally protected action, grounded in the foundational trade union principle that “an injury to one is an injury to all.” The union accused Oshiomhole of attempting to weaken worker solidarity and compared his actions to that of “the Judas Iscariot of Nigerian trade unionism.”
The statement further criticized Oshiomhole for his past service on the Governing Council of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and its Committee on Application of Standards, suggesting that his current views contradict his previous advocacy for workers’ rights. “It is unfortunate that Senator Adams Oshiomhole has, by his comments, demonstrated a monumental ignorance of trade unionism,” NUPENG added.
Declaring Senator Oshiomhole persona non grata within the oil and gas sector, NUPENG announced that it would boycott any labor event featuring the senator. “The leadership of NUPENG hereby declares Senator Adams Oshiomhole persona non grata within the ranks of Nigerian oil and gas workers,” the statement said. “Henceforth, we will not participate in or lend legitimacy to any event featuring Senator Oshiomhole. The NLC, TUC, and civil society organizations should take notice.”
Reaffirming its support for PENGASSAN, NUPENG pledged to seek justice for the dismissed workers using all available legal and industrial means, in accordance with Nigerian law and international labor standards. The union condemned attempts to justify the dismissal of workers for exercising their rights to association and peaceful protest, calling such rationalizations a misrepresentation of both Nigerian labor laws and ILO standards.
In a statement titled “Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole’s Undistinguished Anti-Worker Vitriol,” NUPENG accused the senator of “historical revisionism and political amnesia,” criticizing him for overlooking the mass layoff of 800 engineers while focusing on the strike action. The union cited Section 31 of the Trade Unions Act, Cap T14, LFN 2004, which legally recognizes industrial actions undertaken in sympathy with other workers as protected under Nigerian law.
