The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has declared former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President and serving senator, Adams Oshiomhole, persona non grata over what it described as his “shameful betrayal” of workers’ struggles and his recent comments against striking refinery workers.
In a strongly worded statement jointly signed by its President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi, the union condemned Oshiomhole’s remarks during a television appearance where he criticised the ongoing strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) against Dangote Refinery.
NUPENG accused the former labour leader of hypocrisy and moral failure, noting that his attempt to justify the alleged victimisation of over 800 sacked engineers amounted to “a disgraceful departure” from the principles he once championed as a unionist.
“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,” the statement read.
“Henceforth, we shall not participate in or lend legitimacy to any event featuring Senator Oshiomhole.”
Oshiomhole, speaking recently on Arise News Television, had cautioned unions against industrial actions that could “cripple” businesses, saying:
“In pursuing war, you have to recognise that the tools you deploy must not hurt innocent people, like the tomato sellers who cannot get fuel to move their goods because there is a quarrel between one refinery and one union.
An employer has to exist, mature and be strong enough to guarantee good-paying jobs. If you cripple a business before it even finds its feet, you are also destroying the jobs you claim to protect.”
But NUPENG dismissed the senator’s remarks as insensitive and self-serving, saying his position was “a dangerous toxin designed to weaken workers’ resolve and embolden anti-labour forces.”
“The undistinguished position of Adams Oshiomhole on the PENGASSAN strike qualifies him as the Judas Iscariot of Nigerian trade unionism,” the union declared.
“What a monumental betrayal of the working class! We advise Senator Oshiomhole to retire from commenting on labour matters, as he has irretrievably lost the moral right and legitimacy before Nigerian workers.”
The union reaffirmed its solidarity with PENGASSAN and the 800 affected engineers, vowing to deploy all legal and industrial measures to ensure justice is served in accordance with national and international labour standards.
