Late Comrade John Enas Dubre
National President 1977.1983
BIOGRAPHY OF LATE COMRADE JOHN ENAS DUBRE
FOUNDING NATIONAL PRESIDENT (1977 -1983)
Comrade John Enas Dubre is the founding National President of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and was the pioneer Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). He is recognized as one of the giants of the Nigeria Trade Union Movement—a frontline oil workers who agitated for the formation of the Union to promote and protect the interest of oil workers in Nigeria.
Comrade John Dubre was born in 1938, a native of Okpare, Olomu, Ughelli South, Delta State. He was a brilliant student, an alumnus of the prestigious Urhobo College in Warri, Delta State.
He began his professional career at AGIP Oil Company, where he rose from Reproduction Machinist to Assistant Personal Officer (APO), a position he held for several years without blemish until his retirement.
He became the first National President of NUPENG in 1977 at inaugural conference of the Union held at Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, Benin-city, Edo State. His election came at a critical time when 19 different unions in the oil and gas industry were merged to form NUPENG. At just 39 years old, Dubre’s emergence as president sent shockwaves through the oil industry, particularly among multinational oil corporations who viewed him as a formidable and uncompromising labour leader.
Shortly after his election, there were attempts by his employer, AGIP to neutralize his influence by promoting him to a senior staff position, which would have disqualified him from NUPENG leadership. Dubre rejected the offer, recognizing it as a strategic move to undermine the union. His refusal to relinquish his mandate, despite financial incentives and pressure, underscored his integrity and unwavering commitment to the labour cause.
In addition to his various professional certifications, in 1979, Comrade Dubre undertook training in Collective Bargaining & Dispute Settlement at the International Institute for Labour Studies in Geneva.
At the end of his first tenure as President, Comrade Dubre was returned unopposed in 1980 to continue his good work, but his tenure ended abruptly when a Lagos High Court granted an interlocutory injunction against him in 1984 during an intra-union crisis.
Beyond NUPENG, Dubre’s influence extended to the broader labour movement in Nigeria. He was elected the pioneer Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) during the tenure of Comrade Hassan Sunmonu in 1981. His leadership style was marked by boldness, resilience, and a deep sense of justice. As the founding President of NUPENG, his leadership was very vital as it laid the groundwork upon which the Union stands today.
In his later years as an Elder statesman, despite being confined to a wheelchair, Comrade John Enas Dubre continued to play an active role in union activities. In 2018, he notably took part in NUPENG’s 40th Anniversary Celebration in Abuja, where he provided guidance and support to the new generation of labour leaders.
Comrade John Enas Dubre is remembered as a dogged fighter, a defender of workers’ rights, and a thorn in the side of anti-labour managements. His legacy continues to inspire labour activism in Nigeria and abroad.
On 27th August, 2020, Comrade John Enas Dubre passed away at the age of 82 and was laid to rest on 20th November, 2020 in his hometown of Okpare Olomo, Delta State.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.
