JUST IN: NLC BACKS NUPENG’S NATIONWIDE STRIKE THREAT FOLLOWING ALLEGATION AGAINST MILITARY
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The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to go on strike nationwide over the alleged use of military soldiers to evict workers from the Oritsetimeyin oil site, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its support behind this threat.
In a statement signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero on Friday, the organisation firmly supports NUPENG and denounced the oil workers’ accusation against the military.
Should the violations of agreements and the deployment of the military and other security forces to meddle in labour relations issues persist, NLC promised to intensify its response to the conflict.
Earlier in the week, NUPENG petitioned the Federal Government, vowing to uphold agreements freely entered into by parties and warning of the repercussions of deploying military forces and others to evacuate or evict its members and side employers.
A special naval personnel team was reportedly airlifted into the Oritsetimeyin oil rig on Thursday morning in order to evict the workers, though.
NUPENG threatened to launch a statewide strike after the incident if the government did not force the security officers and the oil rig management to account.
Ajaero’s statement read “NLC stands in unequivocal solidarity with the NUPENG in condemning the deployment of military and security operatives to forcefully evacuate NUPENG members from their work site on the Oritsetimeyin oil rig.
“This disturbing action, reportedly orchestrated by certain corporate interests, is a direct affront to the principles of democracy and industrial relations, which demand respect for workers’ rights and the sanctity of negotiated agreements.
“The use of the army in Oritsetimeyin oil rig is an abuse of the instruments of state security as it runs counter to the dictates of unfettered workplaces free from all forms of coercion. It should be noted that we cannot accept the militarization of our workplaces.
“It is counterproductive and very capable of contaminating the nation’s workplaces, which may lead to further crippling and undermining an already troubled economy.
“According to NUPENG, workers were subjected to unlawful eviction due to their rightful demand for the implementation of agreements reached and signed with their employers. This agreement, which included severance benefits for workers, was established through multiple mediatory meetings convened by the Nigeria
Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in the presence of the Department of State Services (DSS).
“It is therefore alarming that Dutchford E&P, Selective Marine Services, and their labour contractors have chosen to ignore these
legally binding agreements and instead opt for intimidation and coercion through the use of armed forces.
“The NLC calls on the Nigerian Military, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Director-General of the DSS, and the Federal Government to urgently intervene to prevent further harassment and displacement of NUPENG members. This matter is
strictly an industrial relations issue and does not warrant the involvement of military personnel, who should focus on protecting the nation rather than being employed as enforcers for corporate agendas.
“The realisation of the sensitive nature of the world of work made it imperative for our nation to create special processes for handling workplace-related matters, which are encoded in our various statutes.
“The tenets of these industrial relations extant statutes must be allowed full expression by all parties to avoid creating a situation of anomie that will further harm our nation’s economy.
“We reiterate our unwavering support for NUPENG and will not hesitate to escalate our response should these unacceptable actions continue. The protection of workers’ rights and their safety remains our utmost priority, and we call on the nation’s gatekeepers to immediately speak up before the situation degenerates.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress acknowledges the dedication and sacrifices of the Nigerian military and security agencies in safeguarding our nation. However, we remind them that their mandate is the defence of our country’s sovereignty and people, not the suppression of workers’ legitimate demands.”
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