The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the deployment of military personnel to eject workers from the Oritsetimeyin oil rig, expressing its solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over its decision to embark on a nationwide strike.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
News About Nigeria reports that there has been an ongoing industrial dispute between the owners of the Oritsetimeyin oil rig and NUPENG over an alleged breach of agreements freely entered into by both parties.
Earlier this week, NUPENG petitioned the Federal Government and warned of the consequences of using military personnel and other forces to evacuate or eject its members, accusing the rig management of failing to honor agreements.
On Thursday morning, a special naval personnel team was reportedly flown into the Oritsetimeyin oil rig to eject the workers.
In response, NUPENG threatened to declare a nationwide strike if the government failed to hold both the oil rig management and the security personnel involved accountable.
Reacting to this, Ajaero stated that the use of military force at the Oritsetimeyin oil rig is an abuse of state security instruments, running counter to the principles of workplaces free from coercion.
He warned that deploying the military could further cripple an already troubled economy, stressing that it would be highly counterproductive.
He stated, “The NLC stands in unequivocal solidarity with NUPENG in condemning the deployment of military and security operatives to forcefully evacuate NUPENG members from their work site on the Oritsetimeyin oil rig.
“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.
“The use of the army at the Oritsetimeyin oil rig is an abuse of state security instruments as it runs counter to the dictates of unfettered workplaces free from all forms of coercion. We cannot accept the militarization of our workplaces.
“It is counterproductive and very capable of contaminating the nation’s workplaces, potentially crippling and further undermining an already troubled economy.”
Ajaero urged the Nigerian Military, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Director-General of the DSS, and the Federal Government to urgently intervene to prevent further harassment and displacement of NUPENG members.
