Oshiomhole Slams PENGASSAN Over Oil Sector Shutdown Amid Dangote Refinery Dispute

Former Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has criticized the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for shutting down government-owned oil institutions in response to its conflict with Dangote Refinery.

The union had recently directed its members to withdraw their services following the dismissal of about 800 workers by the refinery, leading to the closure of offices belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Abuja. The action triggered fresh fuel queues across the country.

Speaking on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Friday, Oshiomhole expressed disappointment, insisting that PENGASSAN escalated the issue unnecessarily.

He said: “What I’m not sure is right is the ease with which Ferguson resorted to escalating the matter to a secondary level, what we call the secondary solidarity, to a point of shutting down the oil sector. I think that, in seeking to protect a particular set of workers, you do not then risk the job of several other workers.”

The former NLC President argued that labour unions are expected to confront government only on issues that affect all Nigerians, not isolated disputes.

“I don’t have any proof, but my experience is that before you shut the gate of NNPC, there has to be a fight. So when I saw NNPC gate effortlessly closed, all the other companies—government-owned oil companies—without any effort closed, I thought: if this were private employers, would they allow their companies to close without resistance? I do not think so. Why is everybody seemingly so helpless that we are at the mercy of anyone?” he asked.

Oshiomhole maintained that union leaders must demonstrate clear benefits for workers before resorting to extreme measures such as halting the economy.

“Before you take those measures, you are ready for a fight. And the workers, for them to follow, must see the linkage between their well-being and what is at stake,” he concluded.