The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has declared former National Labour Congress (NLC) President, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, persona non grata for what the union describes as his betrayal of workers during the recent PENGASSAN strike.

In a statement signed by its President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi, NUPENG criticized Oshiomhole for urging patience for new investors like Dangote, arguing that intense labour actions should wait until such businesses stabilise.

Oshiomhole had earlier described the PENGASSAN strike — suspended last Wednesday — as “ill‑considered.”

He emphasized that businesses needed to mature and be strong enough to offer good paying jobs, warning that striking too early could harm innocent people who rely on regular fuel supply.

NUPENG responded by accusing Oshiomhole of “rationalising victimisation” for dismissals of over 800 engineers at Dangote Refinery, calling the action an “unjustifiable sack” and saying those workers were punished for exercising their right to unionism.

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The union’s statement asserts that Oshiomhole has “irretrievably lost the moral right and legitimacy before Nigerian workers, and particularly oil and gas workers,” and declared that he will no longer be involved in or given legitimacy by any oil and gas labour‑events.