The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has vowed to use all available avenues to ensure justice for the recent military brutality on workers at the Oritsetimeyin Oil and Gas Rig.
PENGASSAN, in a statement jointly signed on Friday by its President, Comrade Festus Osifo, and General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Ighotemu Okugbawa, said that the assault was carried out by the military and other security agencies hired by Dutchford E&P, Selective Marine Services, and its labour contractors.
TheFact Daily gathered that a Naval Special Force stormed the Oritsetimeyin oil drilling rig to eject the workers over a lingering industrial dispute, which led to the shutdown of the rig.
Reacting to the development, PENGASSAN said, “The use of military actions against unarmed workers is completely unjustifiable and disproportionate because it is the Nigerian workers who have been subjugated to unfair workplace policies, including being paid meagre wages while working in a hazardous environment, that should be the complainant.
“While we understand and commend the workers for their professional disposition to keep the oil rigs flowing, the response of deploying the military to violently remove them is unacceptable and demonstrates a complete disregard for human life and the rule of law,” it said.
Consequently, it demanded a full and transparent investigation into the incident, leading to the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
“The perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions under both national and international law.
“Furthermore, we demand a guarantee of the safety and security of all Oil and Gas workers on the Rigs and a commitment from the relevant authorities to uphold the rights of workers and engage in peaceful conflict resolution. PENGASSAN will not sit idly while such egregious human rights violations occur.
“We will utilise all available avenues to ensure justice for the members and to prevent any future reoccurrence.”
PENGASSAN said.
It called on all concerned citizens, human rights organisations, and international bodies to join in condemning the violence and demanding accountability, as silence in the face of such brutality is complicity.
The association said, “It is on record that these companies are notorious for violating signed agreements reached with various parties, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), on payments and other entitlements due to their workers dating back to 2022.
“We warn that if the reports indicate that Oil and Gas workers are violently ejected from the rig any date soon, PENGASSAN will deploy every arsenal at its disposal to frustrate such moves, as this unconscionable act represents a grave violation of human rights and known labour conventions,” PENGASSAN noted.
