(SPONSORED) PENGASSAN under comrade Festus Osifo: A necessary rejoinder | A tale of pain, oppression, suppression, injustice, power intoxication and undemocratic decisions

Our attention has been drawn to a television media chat by the President of PENGASSANand the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo, on October 15, 2025, as broadcast on Channels TV’s “TUC Half Hour” program.

During the program, Comrade Osifo attempted to whitewash and downplay the deliberate injustice and disservice he meted out to the Chevron Branch of PENGASSAN through the unconstitutional dissolution of her duly elected Branch Executive Council (BEC), the imposition of a Caretaker Committee (CTC), and the subsequent conversion of the same CTC into substantive branch leadership in a manner that can best be described as an “abracadabra-styled” political maneuver.

A large cross section of committed members of Chevron PENGASSAN are not only shocked by these intrigues but are also seriously aggrieved. It is even more worrisome to realise that this is a pattern that is unfolding throughout the industry. Comrade Osifo’s ruthless ambition knows no bounds and respect for law or boundaries.

We are deeply concerned by the falsehoods peddled by Comrade Osifo during the media chat and feel compelled to set the record straight.

It is regrettable that Comrade Festus Osifo, who currently occupies two of the most powerful and sensitive positions within Nigeria’s labour movement — President of PENGASSAN and President of TUC — has, through his actions, validated the fears previously expressed about the dangers of such concentration of power in one individual. The conduct of Comrade Osifo over the last few years has been more than sufficient evidence of why no one should ever be allowed to hold both offices again simultaneously. Comrade Osifo’s penchant to arrogate powers with total disrespect to lawful processes has led PENGASSAN into several internal conflicts resulting in several ongoing court cases over the course of his tenure. It is noteworthy that he has dissolved three elected Branch Executive Councils within the past three years alone, because these branches dared to disagree with his autocratic style of leadership.

In swift anger against the failed recent economic sabotage he led against the nation, he has dissolved two additional branches for not shutting down gas supplies to the nation’s critical economic infrastructures.

During his recent interview, Comrade Osifo falsely claimed that only “five or six disgruntled members” of Chevron PENGASSAN were dissatisfied with the Branch’s situation, inferring 100% “extreme unity” and members alignment to his call for industrial action. The question is who aligns with a draconian leader?

Comrade Osifo’s Channels TV chat on extreme unity is a blatant fabrication aimed at manipulating public opinion — another gross misrepresentation that can easily be disproven by verifiable facts.

President Osifo falsely claimed that there was infighting within the Chevron branch. The truth is that the Congress of Chevron branch was dissatisfied with the performance of the then Branch Chairman. The Escravos Chapter Congress, being the largest chapter in the branch, passed a vote of no confidence in the Branch Chairman and instructed their representatives in the Branch Executive Council (BEC) to facilitate his removal. This move was also supported by opinions from the Lagos and Agbami Chapters, who wanted the same Branch Chairman removed to protect the interests of Chevron PENGASSAN. As a result, a vote of no confidence was passed against the Branch Chairman at the next BEC meeting.

Osifo also falsely alleged that the Chevron Branch Executive Council was unable to conclude the 2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations. In reality, the branch CBA negotiation was scheduled to begin in December 2024, and Osifo prematurely dissolved the elected BEC, established a CTC, and took control of the process. This led to one of the worst negotiations in Chevron PENGASSAN’s history. Notably, Osifo dissolved the BEC on October 8, 2024, before the 2024 CBA negotiation period scheduled for December 2024. President Osifo has a history of taking over vibrant PENGASSAN branches by appointing ineffective and subservient leaders who are easily manipulated. For the records, Chevron PENGASSAN membership strength is about 1200 and not 2000 as falsely claimed by comrade Osifo; of which a good majority are aggrieved, disillusioned and dissatisfied with his leadership. A simple investigation by those who seek the truth will unravel his lies.

THE TRUE ACCOUNT OF EVENTS

Here’s the true story of what Comrade Osifo orchestrated against Chevron PENGASSAN Branch:

1. Thirteen (13) out of eighteen (18) duly elected members of the Chevron PENGASSAN Branch Executive Council (BEC) passed a vote of no confidence on the then Branch Chairman for ineptitude and divisive leadership — a decision overwhelmingly supported by the general congress of over 1000 members.
2. The BEC subsequently wrote to the Central Working Committee (CWC) chaired by Comrade Osifo, requesting an investigation in accordance with the PENGASSAN Constitution.
3. Rather than investigating the allegations, Comrade Osifo unilaterally dissolved the entire Branch Executive Council and Chapter Executive Committee leadership — a clear violation of the Union’s constitution and the congress’ mandate.
4. He thereafter constituted a Caretaker Committee (CTC) and retained the same rejected Branch Chairman as CTC member, without conducting any investigation into the allegations
5. According to the PENGASSAN Constitution, a CTC’s mandate is limited to three (3) months, during which fresh elections must be conducted. Against the directive of the Constitution, Comrade Osifo extended the CTC’s tenure from three (3) months to twelve (12) months by fiat, akin to the law of the ancient and defunct Medes and Persia.
6. Comrade Osifo was not done with his unjust power play on Chevron PENGASSAN Branch, he pushed his luck beyond the unimaginable when he could no longer extend the CTC tenure but must conduct elections since the electoral cycle was nearing its term. He handpicked and migrated the CTC members into substantive BEC positions, bypassing the constitutional and democratic process of election of delegates by the congress.
7. To perfect this illegality, he suspended the Branch Byelaws, unjustly suspended vocal congress members and preventing them from contesting in any election for the next three years.
8. These unfathomable recklessness of Comrade Osifo has caused deep-rooted feeling of injustice, suppression, fear, anxiety and graveyard silence (deliberately veiled as peace and unity) hanging over the entire members of Chevron PENGASSAN Branch.

OUR CHALLENGE TO COMRADE OSIFO AND HIS CENTRAL WORKING COMMITTEE (CWC)

We challenge comrade Osifo and his Puppet CWC to disprove the facts outlined here with verifiable empirical evidence;

1. That the Chevron PENGASSAN Branch Byelaws were not suspended to facilitate undemocratic selection of leaders.
2. That the CTC which is constitutionally stipulated to be a 5-man committee was not made up of 8 members including the alleged Branch Chairman, who was intentionally added to indirectly continue his mis-rule.
3. That the tenure of the Caretaker Committee, constitutionally limited to three months, was not unlawfully extended to twelve months.
4. That Branch delegates, who should be elected by the Congress, were not handpicked by Comrade Osifo through his proxies (the CTC) who in turn selected and produce the purported current Branch officers.
5. That vocal and popular members were not suspended or issued warning letters for opposing injustice.
6. That elections were conducted to produce the purported current Branch officers who were merely handpicked in blatant violation of democratic principles as enshrined in our PENGASSAN byelaws.

OUR RESOLVE

We, the majority of Chevron PENGASSAN congress members, separate from the seven members already in court with the president, Comrade Festus Osifo and the National Executives are determined to ensure that justice, equity and fair play returns to Chevron PENGASSAN Branch, otherwise we will be compelled to mobilize ourselves en-mass to pull out of PENGASSAN.

Those in authority must constantly remember that power is transient and belongs to God alone.

Aluta Continua!!! Victoria Ascerta!!!

Injury to One, Injury to All!!!

Signed:
Barrister Adebayo Adegbite,
No 12, Babalola Obisesan Street, Oke Ado, Ibadan

On behalf of Committed Members of PENGASSAN, Chevron Branch represented by: Croffie Anthony; Adenuga Adekunle; Atuorah Paul; Iwaye Odunayo; Irewale Adewale; Uyebi Samuel; Omowa Adeola; Amorighoye Lucky; Jowa Samson; Ufuoma Odije; Olusegun Oludare; Phyllis Broka; Onyebigwu Kennedy; Golly Alexander; George Orubu; Greg Ogunli; Aboh Veronica; Kuhiyop Edward; Ebrohimi Oritsuwa; Soparaipirim Pepple; Atse Mofe; Bakare Adebayo; Osemwinge Henry; Popoola Abidemi; and Adeola Adefolaju.
Date: October 20, 2025