The National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) has criticised the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) for its recent statement opposing Comrade Adams Oshiomhole over his comments on the Dangote Refinery-PENGASSAN dispute.

Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna on Friday, NUTGTWN Secretary General, Comrade Ali Baba, described the attacks on Oshiomhole as “misplaced and unfortunate,” emphasising that the former NLC President retains the right and responsibility to comment on matters affecting workers and industrial relations in Nigeria.

“As an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), we wish to express our deep concern over the recent unwarranted statement by the leadership of NUPENG attacking the former General Secretary of our union and two-term President of the NLC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, following his patriotic comments and advice on the dispute between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN,” Baba stated.

He added that Oshiomhole’s intervention “was clearly in the interest of industrial peace, national productivity, and the protection of workers’ rights within the framework of dialogue and mutual respect.”

Baba condemned any form of personal attack or abuse directed at Oshiomhole, noting his decades of service to the labour movement and the Nigerian working class.

“The disagreements within the labour family should never degenerate into disrespect for leaders who have sacrificed greatly for the cause of workers,” he said.

Baba urged NUPENG leaders, and the oil and gas sector more broadly, to exercise restraint and “focus on resolving the underlying industrial issues through established mechanisms rather than resorting to public attacks on elder comrades.”

He reminded stakeholders that Oshiomhole’s experience spans leadership of a major private-sector union, two terms as NLC President, service on the Governing Board of the International Labour Organisation, tenure as Governor of Edo State, and current service as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The labour movement must remain united and disciplined in defending workers’ interests in the face of growing national economic challenges. Personal attacks only weaken our collective strength and distract from the real issues confronting workers. Our union stands firmly with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole,” Baba added.

He noted that NUTGTWN is arranging the official renaming of its National Secretariat building in Kaduna in Oshiomhole’s honour, “in recognition of his outstanding leadership and service to workers, the labour movement, and our nation.”