A national strike is on the horizon as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has pledged full support to the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over the military’s involvement in ejecting workers from the Oritsetimeyin oil rig.
The NLC has condemned the alleged use of military personnel to remove oil workers from their worksite and declared that if the situation is not addressed, a nationwide strike will follow.
“We stand in full solidarity with NUPENG,” said Joe Ajaero, the NLC president, in a statement condemning the use of military and security personnel to forcefully evict workers from the rig. “This is an attack on workers’ rights and goes against democratic principles of industrial relations.”
The crisis began when a dispute arose between NUPENG and the owners of the Oritsetimeyin oil rig over an alleged breach of agreements. NUPENG accused the management of not honouring previously signed agreements on workers’ rights and benefits.
The oil workers, represented by NUPENG, had been pushing for the implementation of severance packages and other benefits agreed upon during several meetings with the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), which were attended by the Department of State Services (DSS).
However, things took a dramatic turn when a special naval team was reportedly flown in to the rig on Thursday morning to eject the workers. This action has raised concerns over the involvement of military forces in what is essentially an industrial dispute.
“We are mobilising our members for a nationwide strike,” said a NUPENG official. “This is an unlawful and unacceptable action. If the government doesn’t act soon and stop the harassment of our members, we will be forced to take drastic action.”
The NLC echoed these concerns, emphasising that the military’s intervention is an abuse of state resources. “The use of military personnel in industrial matters is a dangerous precedent,” Ajaero said. “It undermines the sanctity of negotiated agreements and creates a hostile work environment.”
NUPENG’s petition to the federal government specifically called for the intervention of security agencies to prevent further escalation. The union insists that the military should not be used as a tool for enforcing corporate agendas.
“This is strictly an industrial relations issue,” the NLC statement declared. “We call on the National Security Adviser (NSA), the DSS, and the military to intervene and stop these unlawful actions before things get out of hand.”
The oil rig’s owners, Dutchford E&P and Selective Marine Services, along with their labour contractors, are accused of ignoring their legal obligations and opting for force instead of honouring the agreements made with NUPENG. The NLC has called this an abuse of power, urging government officials to intervene immediately.
In the wake of the ejections, the NLC is warning that any further use of military force in such matters could destabilise Nigeria’s workplaces and its economy. “The militarisation of workplaces is not acceptable,” Ajaero said. “The military should focus on defending our nation, not harassing workers.”
The oil sector is critical to Nigeria’s economy, and the looming strike threatens to disrupt operations, further exacerbating existing challenges in the country’s energy sector. The NLC’s support for NUPENG underscores the growing tensions between workers and corporate interests.
While the federal government has yet to make an official statement on the matter, NUPENG has made it clear that they will not back down until the issue is resolved. “We will continue to mobilise our members and escalate our response,” said NUPENG official. “The rights of workers must be respected, and the government must act to stop the militarisation of industrial disputes.”
The crisis at Oritsetimeyin is part of a larger pattern of labor unrest in Nigeria, as workers across various sectors continue to struggle with unpaid benefits and poor working conditions. The use of military force in civilian disputes only adds fuel to the fire, and many fear that this situation could spiral into a wider crisis for the country.
For now, all eyes are on the federal government, as the NLC and NUPENG await a response. If the government does not intervene quickly, a nationwide strike could paralyse the oil sector and other industries, worsening the already fragile state of Nigeria’s economy.
“We will not back down,” said Ajaero. “The protection of workers’ rights and their safety must come first. If this crisis is not resolved, the entire nation will feel the impact.”
