Senator Adams Oshiomhole has expressed strong disapproval of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria’s decision to instigate a nationwide shutdown of oil facilities. The former Nigeria Labour Congress president described the action, taken in response to a dispute with the Dangote Refinery, as a hasty move that unfairly penalises the broader economy and jeopardises other workers’ livelihoods .
Oshiomhole articulated that while defending workers’ rights is fundamental, the methods used must not create widespread hardship. He argued that in seeking to protect one group of employees, the union should not endanger the jobs of countless others in different sectors who suffer from resulting fuel shortages and economic disruption . He characterised the union’s escalation of the matter to a “secondary solidarity” level as an ill-considered strategy .
Reflecting on his own experience in labour leadership, Oshiomhole noted that past disputes with specific employers, such as a major battle with Union Bank, were contained without resorting to industry-wide shutdowns . He also urged for a sense of proportion, cautioning that new private investors require time to stabilise before facing intense labour actions, as crippling a nascent business ultimately destroys the very jobs unions aim to protect .
Despite his criticism of the tactic, Oshiomhole firmly reaffirmed the principle of freedom of association, which he described as not merely a constitutional right but a “God-given right” for workers to unionise . The three-day industrial action, which has now been suspended, was triggered by the dismissal of hundreds of unionised workers at the refinery and led to significant fuel queues and a documented reduction in national oil output .
