NUPENG
By Abayomi Grace
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has declared Senator Adams Oshiomhole “persona non grata” due to his criticism of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) strike. NUPENG views Oshiomhole’s comments as a betrayal of labour principles and a distortion of established laws. The union stated that PENGASSAN’s strike is protected under Section 31 of the Trade Unions Act and aligned with global union tenets, which emphasize solidarity among workers.
NUPENG accused Oshiomhole of ignoring the mass dismissal of over 800 engineers from Dangote Refinery for unionizing while condemning PENGASSAN’s response. The union believes Oshiomhole’s stance is anti-union and pro-corporate, and that he has lost his moral authority to speak on labour issues. NUPENG has announced that it will not participate in or lend legitimacy to any event featuring Oshiomhole.
The declaration is in response to Oshiomhole’s televised criticism of PENGASSAN’s industrial action, which he described as “hasty and unfair” to other workers. Oshiomhole argued that new private sector investors like Dangote should be given time to stabilize before facing intense labour actions. However, NUPENG countered that every worker has the right to unionize and engage in peaceful industrial actions.
NUPENG has reaffirmed its support for PENGASSAN and the dismissed workers, vowing to use all legal and industrial tools to secure justice. The union cited relevant laws, including Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association, and ILO Conventions 87 and 98, which protect workers’ rights to unionize and bargain collectively.
Some people view NUPENG’s declaration as a bold move to protect workers’ rights and hold public figures accountable for their actions. Others see it as a sign of the union’s strength and solidarity with PENGASSAN. However, some critics argue that NUPENG is being unreasonable and that Oshiomhole’s comments were justified. A few people have questioned the effectiveness of NUPENG’s declaration, pointing out that it may not have any real impact on Oshiomhole’s life or career.
