… sponsored membrane to Niyi Adesanya Annual Leadership Boot Camp in Lagos
By Onu Okorie
The President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria PENGASSAN, Comrade Engr Festus
OSIFO, has expressed serious concern over the high number of expatriates in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, mainly from India.
Engr Osifo disclosed this yesterday at a press briefing during the National Executive Meeting of the Association in Abuja.
He averred that while skilled foreign workers contribute to economic development, however, the current situation where many expatriates and alleged quota abuses raise concerns about long-term national
development impact.
“Expatriate employment also strains the economy due to salaries, remittances, and other expenses. Socially, it can fuel unrest and resentment among Nigerians who feel excluded from opportunities in their Industry.
“We demand strengthening our regulatory mechanisms and enforcing the regulations to promote local content and ensure transparency and accountability. We must work towards ensuring fair sharing of our natural resources to the benefits of all Nigerians”.
“As experts and workers in the sector, we stand at the pole point to speak on the state of some oil and gas host communities regarding environmental degradation, lack of infrastructure, and general development.” He stated.
He said that this year, the Association has invested in training and re-training of members and secretariat staff, which is paramount to the continued success and relevance in the industry.
According to him, “Therefore, this year, while we exposed members to the trends and technicalities associated with the energy sector through 2024, we keyed into our existing relationship with the prestigious Lagos Business school to equip NEC members and our secretariat staff with sound education on the leadership skills needed to navigate the imminent changes we will face ahead.”
“To encourage women’s participation in unionism and equip more members with
leadership skills, we trained over 100 members of the PENGASSAN Women
Commission at LBS.”
“Remarkably, we have produced numerous alumnus of this great Center of Learning and Development with improved leadership skills needed to sustain the objectives of our Association both now and in the future.”
“Twenty (20) NEC members were sponsored to attend the Niyi Adesanya Annual Leadership Boot Camp in Lagos. It was an avenue to gain exposure from diverse renowned leaders in different industries and deeply engage in managing career stagnancy in the workplace. Delegates confirm it was a worthwhile and edifying experience.”
“Let us bear in mind that investing in the training and retraining of PENGASSAN
members and staff is not merely an expense but a strategic investment in our future.”
“By equipping our members with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in a dynamic energy landscape, we strengthen our organisation, enhance our collective capabilities, and contribute to the sustainable development of
Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.”
“As previously announced, the reorganisation of the PENGASSAN Secretariat and the implementation of proper placements for our staff is ongoing. This is not merely a restructuring exercise but a strategic initiative designed to enhance efficiency, productivity, and overall effectiveness in serving our members.”
“Our current structure, while functional, has limitations that hinder our ability to
fully meet the evolving needs of our members and the demands of the dynamic energy sector. the reorganisation aims to address these limitations when completed.”
He aldo said that there has been some development concerning our zonal offices, especially in Port Harcourt and Warri. Leadership recently released funds for renovating the old Port Harcourt Zonal office, and work is currently ongoing.
“On the Warri zone, I wish to inform you that some people connived and sold our
plots of land without our consent or approval. However, we have taken all legal and moral steps to recover the land.
“As a statutory responsibility, we approved an audit of the financial activities of all the zones and branches of the Association. I am happy to report that the exercise has been completed, and the Audit Panel has submitted its report. In the report, some contract branches uncovered discrepancies and the branches in question were summoned before the EGDC. Others who failed to appear before the panel had their rebates withheld pending their appearance and clearance.”
“We are all aware of the critical importance of our sector, not just in Nigeria but the world. The oil and gas industry has long been the beacon of our economy, providing jobs, infrastructure, and resources that have fueled our development.”
“However, the sector faces immense challenges that threaten not only its
sustainability but also the prosperity of our nation and the welfare of its citizens.
We also agree that the challenges facing Nigeria’s oil and gas industry are
multifaceted and deeply intertwined with our social, economic, and
environmental fabric.”
“However, we can turn these challenges into opportunities through a commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and innovation. With our collective responsibility, government, industry, you, and I, we can fight for a sustainable future where our natural resources benefit every Nigerian.”
“We believe that harnessing Nigeria’s environmental protection regulations in the oil and gas industry to benefit host communities requires a multi-faceted approach focusing on regulatory enforcement, community engagement, and proactive Environmental Management and Legal Framework Enhancement.”
“The goal is to ensure that regulations translate into tangible improvements in the lives and environment of those communities most impacted by oil and gas operations and end youth restiveness and communal conflicts that arise from these problems.”
“We hereby call for a 100% implementation of the provision of host communities in the Petroleum Industry Act as this will go a long way in bringing stability and development to the affected communities.”
“We wish to congratulate NNPCL for the rehabilitation and successful startup of
the old Port Harcourt refinery. Over the years, PENGASSAN has been at the
forefront for demanding that these refineries must be rehabilitated and brought back to operations. This we will not stop until the remaining three refineries are successfully rehabilitated and resume operations. Afterwards, we will mount a vanguard for the refineries to be privatized using the NLNG model that has worked efficiently over the year.”
He explained that the Association noted the ongoing tax reforms and wish to demand that the tax
relief exemptions that is given to those earning minimum wage and business
should be expanded to accommodate more people and companies in that
category.
“Clarity must be provided regarding revenue collection processes from oil and gas companies as some provisions in the bill have the likelihood of negatively
impacting our members in some of our major branches like Nigeria Upstream
Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigeria Mid and Downstream
Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).”
“We shall be participating actively in the public hearing where our position will
be well articulated. We hereby call on the National Assembly to conduct a proper
public hearing session where different views will be collated to amend the
provisions in the bill and not just to tick the box.”
“We stand at a critical juncture in which Nigeria, a nation blessed with fertile land and a vibrant population but faces a looming food crisis of
immense proportions. And this is not just a prediction; it is a reality unfolding
before our eyes, impacting the lives of millions and threatening the very fabric of our society.”
“The Cadre Harmonisé Report for October 2024 has recently projected that at least 33.1 million people in 26 states and the FCT will face a food and nutrition crisis between June and August 2025.
The consequences are stark and disastrous and should not be left unattended.”
“PENGASSAN demands that to address the looming food crisis, the Nigerian
government must take measures to support both commercial and smallholder farmers, who are the backbone of the food system.”
“These measures should include providing access to credit, improved seeds, fertilisers, and technology, strengthening farmer cooperatives and providing market linkages to ensure fair
prices for their produce. ”
“Additionally, the government must enhance infrastructure by investing in better roads, storage facilities, and irrigation systems to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure efficient food distribution. ”
“The government must provide a secure environment that will enable farmers who abandoned their farms to return back. ”
“Nigeria’s continuous decline in power generation and
transmission is profoundly disappointing and a significant cause of the terrible
quality of life and the economic downturn we are experiencing.”
“Every Nigerian knows and feels the consequences of our poor power supply and deteriorating energy sector. One would have expected an improvement in power supply with the increase in tariffs, but with dismay, we have witnessed the
national grid collapse over 6 times this year alone. It is the worst frequency in our country’s history. Are we making progress or regression? We cannot continue
like this!”
“As a union, we advocate decentralising power transmission and involving state
governments and private sector players. A Good example is what we have in Abia
state where a private sector led initiative has helped in providing constant power
to some sections of the state.”
He urged the Nigerian government to take measures to support both commercial and smallholder farmers, who are the backbone of the food system.
“The post-PIA effects on the energy sector in Nigeria still linger; key transformations have taken place and are still ongoing. This means that we are in a time that calls for collaboration,
strategic planning, and a renewed commitment to advancing the interests of our members.”
“I am excited to share updates, discuss critical challenges, and chart a course for continued success for our Association.”
“I wish to thank all our organs for the wholesome support and encouragement in the past years that led to the successes achieved by this administration.”
“I also want to use this medium to show appreciation to all PENGASSAN members worldwide for their steadfast support. The road would have been more daunting and increasingly overwhelming without you.”
“As you may have been aware, a lot of International Oil and Gas companies
are divesting from onshore and shallow waters of the Nigeria Oil and Gas
Industry.”
The divestment brought about some opportunities for the indigenous
companies and inherent challenges for the employees and members of the
Association in the affected companies.
The major task that was before
PENGASSAN leadership was how to protect the jobs of our members and
the existing collective bargaining agreement; as most of the new companies do not have an existing PENGASSAN branch.
“I wish to gladly announce to this august gathering that we have since concluded negotiations with Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and successfully signed an agreement between Nigeria Agip Oil Company NAOC and Oando Energy Limited. This agreement met the two criteria of protecting the jobs of all our members and protecting the condition of service in the collective bargaining agreement.”
“For the divestment of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited JV Assets to Seplat Energy Offshores Limited, we just concluded negotiation and signed agreement with Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and Seplat Energy Offshores Limited on how our members will be transited and again the two broadline criteria were met. ”
” NEC members. we have also reached a landing on the
divestment of Equinor to Chappal Energy. We are currently reviewing the
communique for a sign-off and this should be concluded in the coming
days. ”
