A fresh wave of fuel scarcity may soon hit Nigeria as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), after its threat of a nationwide strike.
The strike warning followed an alleged military intervention to forcefully remove oil workers from the Oritsetimeyin oil rig, sparking outrage within labor unions.
NLC President Joe Ajaero in a statement released Friday condemned the reported involvement of military personnel, which he described as a breach of labor rights and a threat to the principles of industrial relations. According to Ajaero, the NLC is in total solidarity with NUPENG in its stance against the alleged forced eviction warning that NLC would escalate its response if such incidents continue.
The dispute popped up following a longstanding industrial disagreement between NUPENG and the rig’s management, who allegedly failed to honor contractual agreements concerning worker severance benefits.
NUPENG has criticized the actions of the oil companies involved—Dutchford E&P, Selective Marine Services, and their labor contractors—for allegedly ignoring legally binding agreements and resorting to what they describe as intimidation tactics.
Earlier in the week, NUPENG filed a petition with the Federal Government to address the conflict, expressing alarm over the deployment of armed forces.
Despite this, it is reported that a special naval unit was flown to the Oritsetimeyin rig on Thursday to eject workers, prompting NUPENG to threaten a nationwide shutdown if the government does not intervene.
In response, Ajaero highlighted the destabilizing effects of military involvement in workplace matters, which he said could damage an already fragile economy and violate workers’ rights.
“We cannot accept the militarization of our workplaces,” he stated, calling on the Nigerian military, the National Security Adviser, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to uphold labor statutes and prevent further harassment of union members.
The NLC also stressed the importance of keeping industrial disputes out of the military’s purview, urging authorities to allow peaceful negotiations to run their course.
“This matter is strictly an industrial relations issue,” Ajaero emphasized, urging the government to protect workers’ rights to fair negotiation without coercion.
With fuel scarcity on the horizon, Nigerians may face disruptions if the strike goes forward, impacting businesses, transportation, and day-to-day activities across the nation.