The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has vehemently condemned Senator Adams Oshiomhole, labeling him the “Judas Iscariot of trade unionism” in response to his recent comments on the conflict resolution between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
In a joint declaration by National President Comrade Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Comrade Afolabi Olawale, NUPENG criticized Oshiomhole’s statements as a “gross assault on the fundamental rights of Nigerian workers and a deliberate misrepresentation of established labour legislation.”
The union expressed profound disappointment that a former labour leader has seemingly transformed into a defender of corporate interests, undermining the very workers’ rights he once championed.
They further accused Oshiomhole of “distorting Nigerian labour laws and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions,” highlighting that his remarks betray a misunderstanding of both national and international labour standards.
Recalling former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s description of Oshiomhole as “a comrade by day and a politician by night,” NUPENG questioned the legitimacy of his moral and strategic guidance in labour matters.
Moreover, the union challenged Oshiomhole’s credibility by pointing out his past advice to allegedly corrupt politicians to join the APC as a means of seeking forgiveness, questioning how such a figure can now claim to uphold ethical standards.
Addressing Oshiomhole’s assertions about his resignation timeline from the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), NUPENG clarified that he simultaneously held the positions of NLC President and NUTGTWN General Secretary from 1999 to 2007, only relinquishing the latter role in 2008-one year after stepping down from the NLC.
The union suggested that this overlap might reflect an unrelenting quest for power and personal advantage.
Accusing the senator of revising history to suit his current pro-capitalist stance, NUPENG argued that his alignment favors exploitative labour practices and undermines trade unionism.
They also questioned the legitimacy of his “Distinguished Senator” title, asserting it was acquired through undemocratic means rather than genuine merit.
According to NUPENG, Oshiomhole’s current posture is less about pragmatic reform and more about a betrayal of workers’ interests, influenced by power and vested interests.
The union condemned his admission of having “limited knowledge of the issue” before criticizing the PENGASSAN strike, branding such conduct as “irresponsible and unacceptable.”
To reinforce their position, NUPENG cited legal protections for workers, including Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and ILO Conventions 87 and 98, which safeguard freedom of association and the right to unionize without interference.
They emphasized that mass terminations linked to union activities contravene these protections, as enshrined in Sections 254C(1) and (2) of the Constitution.
Rejecting Oshiomhole’s proposal for a “moratorium on unionization,” the union described it as a “regressive and baseless notion incompatible with democratic principles.”
Directly challenging him, NUPENG demanded he cite any legal provision within the Labour Act, Trade Unions Act, or related legislation that supports such an idea, questioning whether it stems from an unpublished agenda of “daytime comrades and nighttime opportunists.”
They accused him of selective memory and historical revisionism, reminding that Section 31 of the Trade Unions Act (Cap T14, LFN 2004) explicitly recognizes trade disputes, including solidarity strikes.
NUPENG affirmed that PENGASSAN’s solidarity strike is a lawful and protected action, underscoring the global labour movement’s principle that “an injury to one is an injury to all.”
The union expressed astonishment that Oshiomhole, once a member of the ILO Governing Council, could now display such ignorance regarding unionism, noting that his current views echo the anti-labour rhetoric he once opposed as NLC President.
Referencing journalist Reuben Abati’s poignant question about the absence of Oshiomhole’s iconic “aluta” attire, NUPENG encouraged revisiting the 1998 study *Nigerian Textile Industry: Labour-Regime and Adjustment* by Andrae and Beckman for insight into his earlier union leadership.
Due to his denunciation of the PENGASSAN strike and the retaliatory dismissal of over 800 engineers for union activities, NUPENG declared Senator Oshiomhole persona non grata among Nigerian oil and gas workers.
The union announced it will no longer participate in or endorse any events featuring him and called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and civil society groups to follow suit.
They condemned Oshiomhole’s disregard for the affected workers and his opposition to unionism in the petroleum sector, stating it weakens workers’ solidarity while empowering exploiters.
NUPENG reaffirmed its unwavering support for PENGASSAN and the dismissed engineers, pledging to utilize all lawful and industrial means consistent with Nigerian law and international standards to secure justice.
In closing, the union branded Oshiomhole’s stance as a profound betrayal of the working class, likening him to the “Judas Iscariot of Nigerian trade unionism,” and urged him to cease commenting on labour issues, having lost all moral credibility, especially among oil and gas sector workers.
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