By Kunle Sanni –
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has declared Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, persona non grata within the oil and gas sector following his recent criticism of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over its dispute with the Dangote Refinery.
In a statement signed by NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, the union said it would no longer participate in or endorse any labour-related event featuring the former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
“The leadership of NUPENG hereby declares Senator Adams Oshiomhole persona non grata within the ranks of Nigerian oil and gas workers for his undistinguished denunciation of the PENGASSAN strike against the unjustifiable sack of 800 engineers,” the statement read. “Henceforth, we will not participate in or lend legitimacy to any event featuring Senator Oshiomhole. The NLC, TUC, and civil society organisations should take note.”
The declaration followed Oshiomhole’s October 3 appearance on Arise TV, where he criticised PENGASSAN’s decision to escalate its dispute with the Dangote Refinery into a nationwide industrial action, describing the move as “hasty” and “unfair to other workers.”
NUPENG condemned the senator’s comments as a “betrayal of labour principles” and “a distortion of established laws,” accusing him of siding with corporate interests at the expense of workers’ rights.
“We watched 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 stated. “His attempt to justify the victimisation of workers for exercising their fundamental rights to association and peaceful protest represents a gross misrepresentation of Nigerian labour law and ILO conventions.”
The union accused Oshiomhole of “historical revisionism and political amnesia” for criticising PENGASSAN’s strike while ignoring the alleged mass dismissal of 800 workers at the refinery.
Citing Section 31 of the Trade Unions Act, Cap T14, LFN 2004, NUPENG maintained that PENGASSAN’s solidarity action was fully protected under Nigerian law. “The principle that ‘an injury to one is an injury to all’ remains the foundation of trade unionism globally,” it added.
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