PENGASSAN Demands Inclusion of Oil‑Gas Leaders in June 12 National Honours

Why the omission matters

When President Bola Tinubu gathered lawmakers to hand out national awards for participants in the June 12 struggle, the ceremony quickly turned into a flashpoint for labour unions. While the late Frank Ovie Kokori of NUPENG was posthumously bestowed a Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), other oil‑and‑gas activists who risked imprisonment and the outright proscription of their union were nowhere to be seen on the honours list.

PENGASSAN’s national president, Comrade Festus Osifo, made it clear that the snub was not just an oversight but a symptom of a broader tendency to marginalise the role of trade unions in Nigeria’s democratic transition. He reminded the press that PENGASSAN itself was banned by the military in 1994 precisely because its members refused to abandon strikes that demanded the implementation of the June 12 mandate.

Osifo highlighted two comrades — Owodunni and Dabibi — who continued to press for democratic rights even as the Abacha regime intensified its crackdown. Their defiance, according to PENGASSAN, helped keep the spirit of the struggle alive inside the country’s most vital economic sector.

The broader political backdrop

The June 12, 1993 election, widely regarded as the freest in Nigeria’s history, was annulled by the military, sparking nationwide protests, strikes, and the formation of a coalition of civil society groups that eventually forced the return to civilian rule. While the narrative often centres on political figures like Moshood Abiola and cultural icons such as Wole Soyinka, the labour movement was on the front lines, organizing mass work stoppages that crippled the oil‑dependent economy and pressured the junta.

During the early 1990s, PENGASSAN and NUPENG coordinated nationwide oil‑field sit‑ins, effectively turning the country’s oil revenue into a bargaining chip for democracy. These actions resulted in severe retaliation: arrests, intimidation, and, in PENGASSAN’s case, an official ban that forced the union to operate underground for years.

In recent months, the government has made symbolic gestures to honour the June 12 legacy, naming streets after former activists and awarding national decorations. Yet the lack of representation for oil‑and‑gas labour leaders has ignited a fresh debate about historical memory and the politics of recognition.

Osifo’s demand is specific: the government should issue decorations that acknowledge the sacrifices of oil‑sector strike leaders, many of whom endured legal persecution and personal loss. He argued that doing so would not only redress an injustice but also reinforce the message that democracy in Nigeria was a collective effort, not the work of a few elite personalities.

The union also pointed out that other labour figures — such as former PENGASSAN vice‑president Ijioma “Owodunni”, and senior coordinator Dabibi — were instrumental in maintaining the strike momentum despite constant threats. Their contribution, according to the union, was on par with the high‑profile names that received awards.

• Comrade Owodunni — led oil‑field sit‑ins and refused to negotiate under military pressure.
• Comrade Dabibi — organized workers’ councils that coordinated nationwide protests.
• Other unnamed PENGASSAN cadres — faced detention, property seizure, and ostracism.

By naming these individuals, PENGASSAN hopes to shift the public discourse away from a hero‑centric view toward a more inclusive account of the struggle. The union’s call also resonates with a growing sentiment among younger Nigerians who are demanding that the nation’s history be told in full, rather than through a sanitized lens.

While the Tinubu administration has not yet responded publicly to PENGASSAN’s petition, the issue has already entered the parliamentary floor, with several lawmakers echoing the union’s concerns. If the government decides to expand the honours list, it could set a precedent for recognizing unsung heroes across other sectors, such as journalism, academia, and community activism.

The unfolding debate underscores a fundamental truth about democratic movements: lasting change is rarely the product of a single leader or institution. It is the cumulative effort of countless individuals, many of whom remain invisible in official narratives. For PENGASSAN, securing formal acknowledgement for its fallen and living comrades is more than a matter of badge or medal — it is about cementing their place in Nigeria’s democratic heritage.