The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has declared Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo North, “non grata”, over his recent stance on the disagreement between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote refinery.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV on October 3, Adams Oshiomole criticised PENGASSAN for escalating its disagreement with the Dangote refinery into a nationwide shutdown of oil facilities, describing the actions as hasty and unfair to other workers.
But in a statement signed by Williams Akporeha, president of NUPENG, and Afolabi Olawale, general secretary of the association, NUPENG expressed disappointment in Oshiomhole’s remarks, saying it will no longer participate in any event involving the former Edo State governor.
“In conclusion, 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 union said.
“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.”
Furthermore, NUPENG described the senator’s comment as a “betrayal of labour principles” and a “distortion of established laws”.
“We witness 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 statement reads.
“His attempts to rationalize the victimization of workers for exercising their fundamental rights of association and peaceful action are not only nauseating but represent a flagrant misrepresentation of Nigerian Labour Law and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions.”
