A leadership dispute in Rivers State between the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has escalated into court cases at the National Industrial Court in Port Harcourt. Rivers labour leader Comrade Ikechukwu Foster Onyefuru is challenging actions taken against him and against elected union executives.
In one case, Onyefuru contests his suspension as Chairman of the Rivers State Council of the TUC. He argues that the disciplinary action breaches the union’s constitution and that only specified national bodies should be able to sanction an elected state chairman after a fair hearing. He is seeking reinstatement, invalidation of any replacement elections, and damages and costs.
In a separate related case, Onyefuru and nine others challenge the dissolution of an elected PENGASSAN branch executive. The dissolved leadership, elected in August 2024 for a three-year term, was removed in May 2025 following the acquisition of SPDC shares by Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings. The union replaced them with a caretaker committee, and the claimants say the dissolution violates PENGASSAN’s constitution and seek court orders to stop recognition of the caretaker body and prevent certain restrictions and deductions. Across the reports, both matters are pending and defendants have not yet filed responses.
