In a dramatic escalation of tensions, members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Warri Zone, staged a peaceful but forceful picket of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) on Wednesday.
The unions are calling for the resignation of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ezekiel O. Agbalagba, accusing him of intimidation, anti-union practices, and abuse of power.
Protesters, who stormed the university as early as 6:00 a.m., blocked the main entrance with petrol tankers and trucks, effectively paralyzing access to the institution. Chanting solidarity songs, they displayed placards with messages including:
- “Prof. Ezekiel O. Agbalagba Must Go”
- “No to Divide and Rule by the Vice Chancellor”
- “No to Victimisation”
- “Earned Allowance Is Our Legitimate Right”
- “Prof. Agbalagba Cannot Teach Us Unionism”
The demonstration comes in direct response to a circular issued by the Vice Chancellor on Monday, July 21, referencing VC/STAF&STDS/25/VOL1, titled “Security Alert and Caution to All Staff and Students.” In the document, Professor Agbalagba reportedly described the union members as security threats, prompting fears of a crackdown and a call for armed security presence on campus.
Describing the circular as “disgraceful, dangerous, and provocative,” the unions accused the VC of employing archaic and repressive methods to silence legitimate demands and protests. They also warned that any further harassment or victimisation of their members could trigger a nationwide industrial action.
“The Vice Chancellor is trying to suppress our constitutional right to freedom of association. This is an unacceptable abuse of power,” the unions stated.
According to NUPENG and PENGASSAN representatives, the protest is not just about allowances, but also about institutional respect, workers’ rights, and resisting autocratic tendencies within the academic environment.
As of the time of filing this report, General Secretaries Afolabi Olawale (NUPENG) and Lumumba Okugbawa (PENGASSAN) were yet to address the press.
Meanwhile, in the controversial circular, Professor Agbalagba asserted that the university would not tolerate any action capable of jeopardising the peace on campus or undermining the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, particularly in sustaining an uninterrupted academic calendar in Nigerian universities.
Tensions remain high around the institution as stakeholders await the next move from both university management and union leadership.