The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a strong condemnation following the recent deployment of military personnel to disperse members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) from the Oritsetimeyin oil rig. The NLC, in a statement signed by its president, Joe Ajaero, expressed unequivocal solidarity with NUPENG, calling the incident “disturbing” and an attack on the democratic rights of workers.
“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,” Ajaero stated. The Congress emphasized that such actions undermine the lawful rights of union members to engage in labor activities without fear of military intervention.
The NLC further described the dislodgement of NUPENG members from their work site as “deeply troubling,” adding that it set a dangerous precedent for the labor industry. According to the Congress, the involvement of military forces in labor matters threatens the basic tenets of industrial relations, which should prioritize dialogue and respect for legally established agreements.
Ajaero affirmed the NLC’s support for NUPENG and called on the federal government to investigate the incident and ensure that workers’ rights are protected. The Congress urged the government and corporate stakeholders to respect democratic processes and engage in constructive dialogue to resolve labor disputes instead of deploying armed forces to workplaces.
The NLC’s statement concludes with a reminder of the importance of labor rights, warning that repeated incidents like this could lead to a broader crisis in industrial relations across Nigeria if left unchecked.