The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has declared Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), “persona non grata” over recent comments he made criticizing the union’s strike action.
NUPENG stated that it was “shocked to see Oshiomhole ‘rationalising the victimisation of workers’ for exercising their fundamental rights of association and peaceful action,” rights that the Senator had always advocated for in the past.
Oshiomhole had, on Friday, criticized the leadership and members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over their recent action against the Dangote Refinery.
During an interview on Arise Television, he described the union’s strike action (which was suspended last Wednesday) as “ill-considered,” arguing that new private sector investors like Dangote should be given time to stabilize before facing “intense labour action.”
Oshiomhole had argued that the union’s action hurt innocent people:“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,” he said.
Reacting via a lengthy statement jointly signed by its President, Williams Akporeha, and the General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi, NUPENG announced that “henceforth, Oshiomhole will not participate in or lend legitimacy to any of its events again.”
“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 practical effect of our declaring Senator Oshiomhole persona non grata within the ranks of oil and gas workers in Nigeria is that henceforth, we will not participate in or lend legitimacy to any event featuring Senator Oshiomhole.
“The NLC, TUC and conscionable civil society organisations should kindly take notice. Oshiomhole’s denunciation and insensitivity to the plight of 800 Engineers and resistance to unionism in the Petroleum and gas sector is a dangerous toxin designed to weaken the resolve of the working class and strengthen the class enemy.
“NUPENG stands unwaveringly with PENGASSAN and the over 800 unjustly dismissed workers. We will continue to deploy every legal and industrial instrument available to us, in full compliance with Nigerian law and global labour standards, to secure justice.
“The Undistinguished position of Adams Oshiomhole on the PENGASSAN strike qualifies him as the JUDAS ISCARIOT of Nigerian Trade Unionism.
“What a monumental betrayal of the cause of the working class! We advise Senator Adams Oshiomhole to retire from commenting on labour matters, as he has irretrievably lost the moral right and legitimacy before Nigerian workers, and particularly oil and gas workers.”
Join Informant Online WhatsApp Channel With Link Below: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2
To Publish Articles, News, Place Advert, Contact Informant Online With Email Link Below: informantonline.com.ng@gmail.com
