The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has voiced strong disapproval of military involvement in the forced removal of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) members from their posts on the Oritsetimeyin oil rig.
In a statement issued Thursday, NLC President Joe Ajaero called the incident alarming and unjust, condemning the use of military personnel and security forces to forcefully evict NUPENG workers from their work site.
Ajaero expressed unwavering solidarity with NUPENG, describing the incident as an assault on democratic and industrial relations principles that demand respect for workers’ rights and fair treatment.
Ajaero argued that deploying the military for this purpose was an abuse of state power, incompatible with the concept of a workplace free from intimidation.
He emphasized that militarizing the workplace threatens both the economy and the rights of workers, cautioning that such actions set a dangerous precedent.
The NLC noted that the workers were reportedly evicted for standing firm on their demand for an agreement reached with their employers, which included severance benefits.
This agreement, the statement mentioned, had been negotiated through several meetings facilitated by the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to NLC, “The use of the army in Oritseyemi oil rig is an abuse of the instruments of state security as it runs counter to the dictates of unfettered workplaces free from all forms of coercion.
“It should be noted that we cannot accept the militarisation of our workplaces. It is counter-productive and very capable of contaminating the nation’s workplaces which may lead to further crippling and undermining an already troubled economy.”
The statement partly read: “According to NUPENG, workers were subjected to unlawful eviction due to their rightful demand for the implementation of agreements reached and signed with their employers. This agreement, which included severance benefits for workers, was established through multiple mediatory meetings convened by the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in the presence of the Department of State Services (DSS).
“It is therefore alarming that Dutchford E&P, Selective Marine Services, and their labor contractors have chosen to ignore these legally binding agreements and instead opt for intimidation and coercion through the use of armed forces.
“This matter is strictly an industrial relations issue and does not warrant the involvement of military personnel, who should focus on protecting the nation rather than being employed as enforcers for corporate agendas.
“The realisation of the sensitive nature of the world of work made it imperative for our nation to create special processes for handling workplace related matters which are encoded in our various statutes. The tenets of these Industrial relations extant statutes must be allowed full expression by all parties to avoid creating a situation of anomie that will further harm our nation’s economy.
“We reiterate our unwavering support for NUPENG and will not hesitate to escalate our response should these unacceptable actions continue. The protection of workers’ rights and their safety remains our utmost priority, and we call on the nation’s gatekeepers to immediately speak up before the situation degenerates.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress acknowledges the dedication and sacrifices of the Nigerian Military and security agencies in safeguarding our nation. However, we remind them that their mandate is the defense of our country’s sovereignty and people, not the suppression of workers’ legitimate demands.“