Former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has criticised the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for shutting down key government-owned oil institutions as part of its ongoing dispute with the Dangote Refinery.
PENGASSAN recently directed its members to withdraw their services nationwide to protest the dismissal of at least 800 union members by Dangote Refinery. The industrial action led to the closure of major oil sector institutions including 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 on Monday.
The sudden work stoppage sparked fuel scarcity across the country, with long queues reappearing at filling stations in several states.
Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Friday, Oshiomhole expressed deep concern over the union’s tactics, arguing that the decision to escalate a labour dispute with a private entity into a nationwide shutdown of the oil sector was misplaced and reckless.
“What I’m not sure is right is the ease with which Ferguson [PENGASSAN leadership] resorted to escalating the matter to a secondary level — what we call secondary solidarity — to the point of shutting down the oil sector,” Oshiomhole said. “In seeking to protect a particular set of workers, you do not then risk the jobs of several other workers.”
The senator and former labour leader emphasized that nationwide strikes or shutdowns of strategic national assets should only occur after an open confrontation with the government over issues that affect all Nigerians, not just a segment of workers.
“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’s gate effortlessly closed, and all the other government-owned oil companies without any resistance, I thought: if these were private employers, would they allow their companies to close so easily? I do not think so,” he argued.
Oshiomhole also reminded labour unions that their operations are governed by law and that drastic measures like shutting down the economy require a clear, justified link to the broader well-being of the workforce.
“Before you take such measures, you must be ready for a fight — and the workers, for them to follow, must see the connection between their well-being and what is at stake,” he added.
The senator’s comments come amid growing debate over PENGASSAN’s handling of its dispute with Dangote Refinery, with critics warning that the union’s approach risks broader economic consequences while supporters insist it is a necessary stand against unfair labour practices.
The federal government has yet to comment officially on the shutdown or the status of talks between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery, but analysts warn that prolonged disruptions could deepen Nigeria’s fuel supply challenges and strain its already fragile energy sector.
