OSHIOMHOLE FAULTS PENGASSAN FOR SHUTTING OIL SECTOR OVER DISPUTE WITH DANGOTE REFINERY
Read Time:2 Minute, 14 Second
By Sunmisola Shodayo
Former President of the Nigerian Labour Congress and legislator representing Edo North, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has criticized the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria’s (PENGASSAN) decision to paralyze government-owned oil entities amid their dispute with Dangote Refinery.
In the midst of its confrontation with Dangote Refinery, PENGASSAN recently instructed all its members to cease their operations following the dismissal of at least 800 union members by the refinery.
This directive resulted in the shutdown of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) offices in Abuja on Monday.
As a consequence, fuel shortages emerged, leading to long queues at petrol stations throughout various regions of the country.
Nevertheless, Oshiomhole has conveyed his dissatisfaction regarding PENGASSAN’s management of the dispute, asserting that the matter should not have been elevated to such a critical level.
During an appearance on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Friday, the former NLC President stated that the union should not have shut down the oil sector while attempting to safeguard a specific group of workers.
He remarked, “What I’m not sure is right is the ease with which Ferguson resorted to escalating the manner to 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.”
Oshiomhole asserted that prior to a labor union initiating a nationwide strike, there must be an established contention or conflict with the government concerning an issue that affects all citizens of Nigeria.
“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’m like if this were private employers, would they allow their companies to close without any resistance… I do not think so. So, why is everybody seemingly so helpless that we are at the mercy of anyone?” the former labor leader inquired.
Oshiomhole maintained that the actions of labor unions are governed by legal frameworks, emphasizing that before union leaders can proceed to the extent of paralyzing the economy, the workers must perceive a legitimate rationale to endorse their appeal.
“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,” Oshiomhole concluded.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0