From Noah Ebije Kaduna
The National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) has lambasted the leadership of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) for attacking its former General Secretary, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, over his recent comments on the dispute between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN.
Officials of NUPENG on Monday berated Oshiomhole, the senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, for criticising the recent strike by oil workers, describing him as “the Judas Iscariot of Nigerian trade unionism.”
NUPENG in a statement signed by its President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, said the lawmaker’s action betrayed the very principles he once espoused as a labour leader.
However, addressing a press conference at the weekend, the General Secretary of the Textile Union, Comrade Ali Baba faulted officials of NUPENG for being too personal on their attack on Oshiomhole.
Baba said Oshiomhole has every right and responsibility to speak on matters affecting workers, industrial relations, and the nation’s economy. “As an affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), we wish to express our deep concern over the recent unwarranted statement by the leadership of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) attacking the former General Secretary of our union and two-term President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, following his patriotic comments and advice on the dispute between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN.
“We wish to strongly state that as a respected leader of Nigeria’s labour movement, former General Secretary of one of the most organized private sector unions in Africa which our union represents, two term President of NLC, former member of the Governing Board of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), former State Governor, former Chairman of the ruling political party, the APC and currently a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Comrade Oshiomhole has every right and indeed a responsibility to speak on matters affecting workers, industrial relations, and the nation’s economy.
“His intervention in the Dangote-PENGASSAN dispute was clearly in the interest of industrial peace, national productivity, and the protection of workers’ rights within the framework of dialogue and mutual respect.
“We strongly condemn any form of personal attack or abuse directed at Comrade Oshiomhole, whose decades of selfless service to the labour movement and the Nigerian working class remain exemplary. Disagreements within the labour family should never degenerate into disrespect for leaders who have sacrificed greatly for the cause of workers.
“Our union stands firmly with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. We reaffirm our unwavering respect for his legacy of principled leadership, courage, and commitment to the Nigerian working class even as we conclude arrangement for the official renaming of our union’s National Secretariat building in Kaduna in his honour in recognition of his outstanding leadership and service to workers, the labour movement and our dear nation,” Baba said.
The post Dangote: Textile union tackles NUPENG for attacking Oshiomhole appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.
