Comrade Joseph Dagogo-Jack, a leader of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in Port Harcourt Zone has accused the President and the General Secretary of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale of using bullying, harassment and other unconstitutional tactics to run the affairs of the union.
The elder statesman also condemned the illegal and unconstitutional suspension of the National Treasurer of NUPENG, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, Samuel Mina, Queen Udeh, Justine Adigwe, etc, describing the decision as an aberration and a stain on the union’s conscience, noting that many of the reported abuses in the union are occurring because the current leadership of the union at the national secretariat lacks operational, administrative and procedural competence.
In a statement signed by the union leader on Monday, he accused Afolabi and Akporeha of wrongfully taking the National Chairman of PTD, Comrade Lucky Osesua and his executives to Court over trumped-up charges. He stressed that Comrades Lucky Osesua, Dayyabu Garga; Peter Muodobelu, Humble Obinna Power; Akinolu Olabisi; Godwin Nwaka; Tiamiu Sikiru Ojo; Abdulmumuni Shaibu, Sylvanus Idanwekhai, Sunday Ezeocha, Osamuyi Osahon, and others are the preferred executives of PTD by the members, no matter the “wicked and divisive nature of the parent body”.
The PTD leader also exposed the General Secretary for manipulating the President into writing needless letters and resolutions that are capable of putting the President’s office into disrepute and total shame on social media. He also maintained that for peace to reign in the union there should be a level playing field for anyone willing to contest for President and other elective positions, adding that no one should be disenfranchised during the union’s 2026 Delegates Conference.
Comrade Dagogo-Jack further accused Afolabi of coercing the Zones in the union to sheepishly pass a vote of confidence on the President and the office of the General Secretary which he (Dagogo-Jack) claimed was written by Afolabi, but forced on the Zones of the Union and Zones in various Branches of the Union for them to use on the social media, including Whatsapp platforms.
He however called on the Federal Ministry of Labour/Employment, Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Registrar, the Police, Department of State Services, Judiciary, etc to take the lead in reversing the ugly trend in the Oil and Gas union by prioritising respect for labour laws and collective bargaining agreements where necessary as it concerns NUPENG staff and members.
He again used the opportunity to call attention to broader challenges affecting NUPENG, including repression, insecurity of jobs, and diminishing civic space in the union. He argued that a robust civic environment is vital for both business and trade Union activities to thrive, while also seeking the assistance of the media in order to get a voice that can aid justice, peace, accountability, transparency and equity in NUPENG.
“The President and the General Secretary of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale have both taken bullying, intimidation, victimisation and harassment of both members and staff of the union in all the four zones in Nigeria to an extremely high and embarrassing level, to the extent that in the eyes of the public, NUPENG is now being subjected to ridicule, total disgrace, and has become a laughing stock to the rest of the world especially ILO, IndustriALL and so on.
“As at today NUPENG under the leadership of Afolabi and Williams has recorded the highest number of lawsuits, with an average of 50 cases, many of which were filed by former staff, expelled, or suspended members of the union. Infact the judiciary is even tired of their approach to many of the cases and worst still the union has been reprimanded severally and slammed with contempt charges and fines.
“The current national leadership of NUPENG has created serious crisis in PTD by removing a democratically elected National Chairman, in person of Comrade Lucky Osesua and replacing him with a stooge which is against the wishes of the members, and also in contravention to the declarative orders of the court on how a free and fair election should be conducted in PTD. Yet, the General Secretary and the President in their wicked act are still pressing criminal charges on innocent individuals who are known to be law abiding and have never erred in law.
“Myself and other concerned members of the union who want the best for NUPENG are therefore appealing to the media to please partner with the aggrieved members of the union who are on the side of truth and clamoring for fair hearing and justice to foster a more secure, industrial friendly, and prosperous Trade Union atmosphere. The media should as well be consistent in maintaining a high level of responsibility, ethics, and professionalism in their reporting, as well as ensure accurate and objective information dissemination not minding whose ox is gored.
“Afolabi and Williams have now seen the social media as tools to drag the name of the union in the mud, posterity will never be kind to them as they have decided to ruin the legacies of late Comrade (Chief) Frank Ovie Kokori and other founding fathers of the Union.
“Afolabi and Akporeha’s consistent mistreatment of staff and members across the zones regrettably involves threats, humiliation, and intimidation, leading to significant psychological distress for the targeted individuals. It’s a heartbreaking reality, but many people feel cornered and powerless when confronted with these abnormalities in the union.
“This toxic behavior if not addressed on time may tear the union apart and make its upcoming 2026 Delegates Conference an impossible agenda. Stakeholders of the industry must take note and rescue the union from this preposterous and unfortunate situation. Profit without people is an empty pursuit; progress without justice is a fleeting illusion. “Afolabi and Williams should stop running the union as their personal enterprise” Dagogo-Jack said.
