Senator Adams Oshiomole
Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has strongly criticised Senator Adams Oshiomhole for comments he made on national television, accusing the former labour leader of misrepresenting labour laws and turning his back on workers’ rights.
In a joint statement released Monday in Abuja by NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, the union described Oshiomhole’s remarks as a clear attack on fundamental labour principles.
According to the union, Oshiomhole—once a champion of workers’ rights as president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)—has now become “an advocate of corporate oppression,” siding with employers against the rights of workers to freely organise and take collective action.
Citing Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Section 9(6) of the Labour Act, and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98, NUPENG emphasised that the right to unionise is fully protected under both Nigerian and international law.
The union dismissed Oshiomhole’s call for a temporary halt on union activities in certain sectors as “absurd and archaic,” stating that such a stance has no legal or moral basis. “Solidarity actions, such as the current PENGASSAN strike in support of dismissed workers at Dangote Refinery, are fully recognised under the Trade Unions Act,” NUPENG stated.
In a sharp rebuke, the union accused Oshiomhole of “historical revisionism and political amnesia,” pointing out that he once led similar strikes during his time as NLC president—strikes rooted in the very principles he now seeks to undermine.
“By denouncing the PENGASSAN strike and justifying the dismissal of over 800 engineers for unionising, Oshiomhole has betrayed the working class,” the statement added.
As a result, NUPENG declared the senator “persona non grata” among oil and gas workers and vowed not to attend any event where he is present.
The union called on the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC), and civil society organisations to take note of its stance, affirming that it would continue to use both legal and industrial means to protect the rights of workers.
“Oshiomhole has lost the moral right to speak on labour issues,” NUPENG concluded, pledging full solidarity with PENGASSAN and demanding the immediate reinstatement of the sacked workers.
