₦airaland Forum

Former Nigeria Labour Congress president and senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has criticised the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria for escalating its disagreement with the Dangote Refinery into a nationwide shutdown of oil facilities, describing the move as hasty and unfair to other workers.

Speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Friday, Oshiomhole said while unions have the right to defend workers, they must do so in ways that do not create wider economic hardship.

“I think that in seeking to protect a particular set of workers, you do not then risk the jobs of several other workers. When you are pursuing a dispute, the tools you deploy must be such that they do not undermine other people’s jobs,” he said.

Oshiomhole noted that the oil union’s decision to shut down facilities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and other firms because of issues at Dangote was ill-considered.

“I suddenly witnessed long queues at filling stations and people came to me to ask, ‘why are we not at work today, what has happened to the oil industry?’ And the reason was that PENGASSAN had decided that NNPC be shut down, several other companies shut down, all because of a problem in one refinery,” he said.

Drawing from his experience as NLC president, Oshiomhole argued that disputes should be directed at the specific employer involved.

“We had a big battle with Union Bank of Nigeria over their policy on married couples working together. But even when we had the capacity to shut down all the banks, we didn’t. We recognised that the alleged offence of Union Bank could not be said to apply to others,” he recalled.

He also cautioned against rushing into strikes without considering their broader impact.

“In pursuing war, you have to recognise that the tools you deploy must not hurt innocent people, like the tomato sellers who cannot get fuel to move their goods because there is a quarrel between one refinery and one union,” Oshiomhole said.

While affirming that the right to unionise is fundamental, he urged balance.

“Freedom of association is not just a constitutional right, it is a God-given right. But with that freedom comes responsibility, both the employer and employee must exercise their rights in a way that is fair,” he said.

Oshiomhole added that new private sector investors like Dangote should be given time to stabilise before facing intense labour action.

“An employer has to exist, mature and be strong enough to guarantee good-paying jobs. If you cripple a business before it even finds its feet, you are also destroying the jobs you claim to protect,” he warned.

Dangote Refinery, commissioned in May 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, is Africa’s largest single-train refinery with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.

PENGASSAN, one of the country’s two major oil unions, had last month ordered members to shut down operations in protest against perceived anti-labour activities at the refinery.

The action triggered fuel queues across several states, drawing criticism from government officials and industry players who warned it could worsen Nigeria’s energy supply chain.

Tochi3:


..you see the type of creatures that surrounds tilumbu & Apcish..very deceptive, liars and double faced creatures..

..this man did worse in his role as NLC president..never backing down...it is like associating with tilumbu and Apcish retard backwards..

..come to apcish..& your sins will be forgiven..while your senses will be taken away from you..

PulaPower:
You people are just too empty ehh..

What did he say that’s wrong?

He’s the best NLC president ever, you can’t take that away from him..

PulaPower:
You people are just too empty ehh..

What did he say that’s wrong?

He’s the best NLC president ever, you can’t take that away from him..

Tochi3:


..the best NLC president who made sute that workers were all protected unionized during his time is now going against thesame solidarity that he presided..going against thessme thing he fight for...

..is this not thesame criminal aka "best Labour President: that said your sins would be forgiven..if you come eat at the table of Apcish to eat..
.

..you, Oshiomole are decieving urseives..

PulaPower:
So, where in his statement is he saying workers interest shouldn’t be protected?

I doubt you read before jumping to comment..

Enjoy your self delusion..

PulaPower:
So, where in his statement is he saying workers interest shouldn’t be protected?

I doubt you read before jumping to comment..

Enjoy your self delusion..

Speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Friday, Oshiomhole said while unions have the right to defend workers, they must do so in ways that do not create wider economic hardship.

Tochi3:


..you see the type of creatures that surrounds tilumbu & Apcish..very deceptive, liars and double faced creatures..

..this man did worse in his role as NLC president..never backing down...it is like associating with tilumbu and Apcish retard backwards..

..come to apcish..& your sins will be forgiven..while your senses will be taken away from you..

Tochi3:


..See the quote below from Oshiomole himself..



..when Oshiomole was embarking on all form of protest, strikes etc..did he think about the economic hardship that will be created..?

..always changing the goal post because it does not favour with standing on a certain grab mandate..

..hypocrisy is what again..?

Tochi3:


..you see the type of creatures that surrounds tilumbu & Apcish..very deceptive, liars and double faced creatures..

..this man did worse in his role as NLC president..never backing down...it is like associating with tilumbu and Apcish retard backwards..

..come to apcish..& your sins will be forgiven..while your senses will be taken away from you..

Tochi3:


..you see the type of creatures that surrounds tilumbu & Apcish..very deceptive, liars and double faced creatures..

..this man did worse in his role as NLC president..never backing down...it is like associating with tilumbu and Apcish retard backwards..

..come to apcish..& your sins will be forgiven..while your senses will be taken away from you..

PulaPower:
You people are just too empty ehh..

What did he say that’s wrong?

He’s the best NLC president ever, you can’t take that away from him..

osuofia2:
Why Obideints prefer PENGASSAN to Dangote? Just because you all thought the actions will ground the sector, so you can have bad news to share.
Pathetic

AndroBlaze:
Did you even read anything he said??

Or you just got angry and reacted as we have now come to expect.

BeardedMeat:
Thread created since morning and on front page with just few comments.

Oshopikin has lost relevance. Nobody, not even Agbadorians are interested in what he has to say.

AndroBlaze:
Did you even read anything he said??

Or you just got angry and reacted as we have now come to expect.

Speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Friday, Oshiomhole said while unions have the right to defend workers, they must do so in ways that do not create wider economic hardship.

favor914:
He is not relevant because u disgruntled Obidients don’t like the message.

Yet u have been monitoring the thread since morning, then eventually jumped into it in the afternoon?

favor914:
You have said it al, thengs like that Tochi3 with no joy, all they hope for is bad news, so that them & their fellow Obidients will have a reason to wail.