Chevron-PENGASSAN leadership crisis: Court orders peace

Chevron-PENGASSAN leadership crisis: Court orders peace

Justice Joyce Onugba-Damachi of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Lagos Division, issued a formal peace order as the court heard a high‑stakes suit involving the Chevron branch of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). The order tells every side – from senior oil‑field engineers to union officials – to refrain from any action that could inflame tensions while the court decides whether the union’s national leadership overstepped its authority.

Background of the dispute

The conflict began when the national executives of PENGASSAN announced the dissolution of the Chevron Branch’s elected executive committees. In their place, they installed a Caretaker Committee (CTC) to run the branch’s affairs. Seven senior officers of Chevron Nigeria Limited – Sunday Ebulu, Ete Oyegbanren, Edwin Koloh, Samuel Akinfe, Fola Oyinbo, Alaba Fadola and Jeremiah Odior – argue that the move was taken without a proper vote or any amendment to the union’s constitution.

These officers filed suit (NICN/LA/214/2025) not only as individuals but also as concerned members of the Chevron Branch. Their claim seeks a judicial interpretation of the PENGASSAN Constitution and a declaration that the national officers’ actions violated both the constitution and the members’ rights. The plaintiffs contend that the caretaker appointment stripped them of legitimate representation and could jeopardise collective bargaining outcomes for thousands of workers in the oil sector.

Defending the union’s decision are PENGASSAN itself, its National President Comrade Festus Osifo, General Secretary Comrade Lumumba Ighotemu Okugbawa, and the eight men who sit on the caretaker panel: Egbadon Lawrence, Ani Ikechukwu, Ofoma Ugochukwu, Lawal Abdul‑Kabir Oluwaseyi, Ogbudu Roland, Udolu Paul, Asekutu Wilson and Lavin Aghaunor. The defence maintains that the dissolution was a necessary step to address internal mismanagement and that the caretaker was appointed following internal emergency procedures.

• Chelvron Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of the global energy giant, employs over 10,000 staff nationwide, many of whom are union members.
• PENGASSAN, founded in 1979, is the primary representative body for senior staff in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
• The union’s constitution outlines clear procedures for branch elections, committee dissolutions, and caretaker appointments.

Legal scholars note that disputes of this nature are relatively rare in Nigeria’s oil sector, where union‑management relations are often managed through negotiations rather than courts. However, previous cases – such as the 2015 NUPENG leadership tussle – show that judicial intervention can set precedents for how constitutional breaches are handled within powerful labor federations.

Court intervention and next steps

During the hearing, the plaintiffs’ counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ebun‑Olu Adegboruwa, withdrew a pending motion for interim reliefs. The strategic withdrawal was meant to accelerate the substantive trial, a move not contested by the defence counsel, Ambassador Sola Iji. By focusing on the core constitutional questions, the court can render a decision that clears the procedural fog surrounding the caretaker’s legitimacy.

The peace order issued by Justice Onugba‑Damachi forbids any hostile actions, public statements that could incite unrest, or attempts to enforce the caretaker’s authority outside of the court’s final ruling. Violations could attract contempt of court sanctions, a serious deterrent given the high‑profile nature of the parties involved.

Should the court find the national leadership’s actions unlawful, the likely remedy would involve reinstating the dissolved executive committees and possibly ordering an election within a set timeframe. Alternatively, if the caretaker’s appointment is deemed valid, the plaintiffs may have to seek redress through internal union mechanisms rather than the judiciary.

Industry observers are watching closely because the outcome could ripple through other PENGASSAN branches and even affect broader labor‑management dynamics across Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. A ruling that strengthens branch autonomy might empower workers in other unions to challenge top‑down decisions, while a verdict upholding the national leadership could reinforce centralized control.

For now, all eyes remain on the Lagos Division of the National Industrial Court as it works through the constitutional arguments and the factual record presented by both sides. The peace order ensures that, despite the high stakes, the dispute stays within legal bounds, protecting both the workforce’s stability and the union’s integrity.