The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has issued a fiery response to recent remarks made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, describing his comments as “undistinguished,” “anti-worker,” and a complete betrayal of the ideals of the Nigerian labour movement. The union expressed shock that a former labour leader could openly side with corporate interests against the fundamental rights of workers to freely associate and unionize.
Labour Condemns Oshiomhole’s ‘Anti-Worker’ Stance
In a statement signed by NUPENG’s National President, Comrade Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, the union described Oshiomhole’s public attack on the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) strike as both “reckless and deeply reprehensible.”
NUPENG stated that Oshiomhole’s comments, made during a televised interview, not only misrepresented the provisions of Nigerian labour laws but also undermined the sacrifices of generations of trade unionists who fought for workers’ dignity. The union said it was ironic that a man who once led nationwide strikes in defence of labour now seeks to justify the victimisation of 800 engineers allegedly sacked for exercising their constitutional rights.
Constitutional and International Labour Guarantees
Citing Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), NUPENG reaffirmed that every person in Nigeria citizen or non-citizen has the right to freedom of association, including the right to form or join trade unions.
It further highlighted Section 9(6) of the Labour Act, which expressly forbids any employment contract that seeks to exclude a worker from trade union membership. In addition, the union referenced ILO Conventions 87 and 98, which guarantee workers’ freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, both of which Nigeria has ratified.
According to NUPENG, the mass dismissal of engineers for unionizing represents a gross violation of these international labour standards and a dangerous attempt to silence collective voices within the oil and gas industry.
‘A Comrade Turned Corporate Defender’
In a strongly worded rebuke, NUPENG accused Oshiomhole of morphing from a once-fiery labour activist into a “corporate apologist,” more concerned with pleasing political elites than protecting workers. The union recalled former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s famous description of Oshiomhole as “a comrade in the morning and a politician by night,” saying that the senator’s recent behaviour now validates that remark.
The statement further questioned Oshiomhole’s moral standing to lecture workers on ethics and union strategy, citing his alleged double tenure as both NLC President and General Secretary of the National Union of Textile Workers from 1999 to 2008 a claim that NUPENG said reflects “a pathological lust for power and control.”
Solidarity with PENGASSAN and the 800 Sacked Engineers
Reaffirming its solidarity with PENGASSAN, NUPENG stated that the principle of “an injury to one is an injury to all” remains the backbone of global unionism. The union emphasized that Section 31 of the Trade Unions Act recognises and protects sympathy strikes undertaken in solidarity with other groups.
NUPENG described the ongoing PENGASSAN action as a legitimate and constitutionally protected response to injustice. It condemned Oshiomhole’s suggestion of a “moratorium on unionization” as archaic, undemocratic, and alien to any modern labour system.
“It is absurd for anyone who once chaired the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Committee on Application of Standards to now campaign against the same rights he once defended,” the statement read.
NUPENG Declares Oshiomhole Persona Non Grata
In a rare disciplinary move, NUPENG declared Senator Oshiomhole “Persona Non Grata” among Nigerian oil and gas workers, effectively barring him from all union-related events and engagements.
The union said it would not lend legitimacy to any forum featuring Oshiomhole, accusing him of betraying the working class and aligning with “unconscionable capitalists who prefer slave labour to fair employment practices.”
NUPENG further called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and civil society groups to take notice of Oshiomhole’s “anti-worker posture” and distance themselves from his divisive rhetoric.
Labour Vows to Continue the Fight for Justice
In closing, the union vowed to continue using all legal and industrial mechanisms available to secure justice for the 800 dismissed engineers and to protect the integrity of trade unionism in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
“The undistinguished position of Adams Oshiomhole on this matter qualifies him as the Judas Iscariot of Nigerian Trade Unionism. His words are a dangerous toxin meant to weaken workers’ resolve and embolden oppressors. We stand firmly with PENGASSAN and the workers in their struggle for justice,” the statement concluded.
Solidarity Forever
NUPENG reiterated its unwavering commitment to defending the rights and welfare of workers in the petroleum and gas industry, declaring that its solidarity remains constant, for “the union makes us strong.”