…Alleges forceful eviction of workers from Delta oil rig
By Bimbola Oyesola
Members of the organised labour movement have risen in unison to condemn what they described as the militarisation of industrial disputes, following the alleged deployment of military forces to evict workers from the Oritsetimeyin Oil Rig in Delta State.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in separate statements noted that the eviction, allegedly carried out under the directive of the rig operators—Dutchford Exploration and Production (E&P), Selective Marine Services, and associated labour contractors—raised nationwide concerns regarding workers’ rights and the dangerous precedent of involving the military in industrial matters.
The NLC in a statement signed by its president, Joe Ajaero, characterised the deployment of armed forces against workers as a “direct affront to the principles of democracy and industrial relations,” arguing that such actions undermine workers’ rights and ignore lawful, negotiated agreements.
The NLC president warned that involving the military in labour disputes not only endangers Nigeria’s economic stability but also shows a disregard for established conflict-resolution processes.
“The use of the army at the Oritsetimeyin oil rig is an abuse of state security instruments,” Ajaero said. “We cannot accept the militarization of our workplaces; it is counterproductive and threatens to further weaken an already fragile economy.”
Similarly, PENGASSAN denounced what it described as “brutal and excessive force” against oil and gas workers by the military and other security agencies.
In its statement, PENGASSAN cited past instances in which rig operators allegedly failed to honour signed agreements, pointing to unresolved issues of unpaid severance benefits dating back to 2022.
PENGASSAN’s general secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, condemned the “unjustifiable” response, labelling it a “complete disregard for human life and the rule of law.”
He called for an immediate and transparent investigation into the incident, demanding that those who authorised the use of force be held accountable under both national and international laws.
“The perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions,” Okugbawa insisted, emphasizing that PENGASSAN would utilize “all available channels to secure justice for members and prevent future occurrences.”
Meanwhile, NUPENG President Williams Akporeha seen the deployment of military personnel as a means of intimidating workers into relinquishing their rights.
He noted that the companies involved had, as recently as October, reached an agreement to pay severance benefits in the presence of representatives from the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Department of State Services (DSS). According to Akporeha, Dutchford E&P and Selective Marine had since “opted to backtrack,” resorting instead to “brute force as a means of bypassing compliance with the agreement.”
He urged the federal government to intervene before the situation further escalates, cautioning, “The authority of the Nigerian Army and other security forces should direct its personnel to desist from any action intended to threaten, intimidate, harass, or forcefully evacuate our members.”
The three unions have called on the National Security Adviser, the DSS Director-General, and the federal government to address the situation, emphasising that the dispute is purely an industrial relations issue. They underscored the importance of upholding workers’ rights and preserving the sanctity of the workplace, warning that further escalation could have severe repercussions for Nigeria’s workforce and economy.