The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has declared former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Senator Adams Oshiomhole, persona non grata over his recent comments condemning the strike action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
In a statement jointly signed by its President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi, NUPENG said it was shocked that Oshiomhole, who once championed the rights of workers, could “rationalise the victimisation of workers” for exercising their fundamental rights of association and peaceful protest.
The union said Oshiomhole’s remarks were a betrayal of the labour struggle and announced that he would no longer be welcomed at any of its events or activities.
“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 statement read.
“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,” it added.
NUPENG also urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and civil society organisations to take note of Oshiomhole’s “insensitivity to the plight of the 800 engineers” and warned that his position could “weaken the resolve of the working class and strengthen the class enemy.”
Oshiomhole, who is also a serving senator, had earlier criticised PENGASSAN’s strike action against Dangote Refinery, describing it as “ill-considered.” He argued that new private investors like Dangote should be given time to stabilise before being subjected to industrial action.
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