The outgoing President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo, has attributed the relative stability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector over the past six years to proactive union leadership and sustained engagement with workers and employers.
Osifo made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja at a media parley marking the end of his tenure, saying his administration focused on protecting jobs, improving workers’ welfare and maintaining industrial peace across the sector.
He said the union adopted a hands-on approach by remaining closely involved in workplace negotiations and resolving disputes involving job cuts, contract reviews, collective bargaining agreements and workers’ welfare.
According to him, PENGASSAN’s leadership worked directly with affected branches and management teams to prevent disagreements from escalating into prolonged industrial crises.
Osifo also highlighted efforts to protect workers’ purchasing power following the sharp depreciation of the naira in 2023.
He said the union negotiated with employers to restore a substantial portion of workers’ lost income, with adjustments in many cases exceeding the prevailing inflation rate.
“We were able to push and restore back what they lost,” he said.
The outgoing president said PENGASSAN’s approach contributed to maintaining industrial stability in the oil and gas sector at a time when other sectors were experiencing strikes, job losses and other labour-related challenges.
He said the trust established between the leadership and members also enabled the union’s Central Working Committee to make strategic decisions that enjoyed broad acceptance.
As he prepares to hand over after six years in office, Osifo said he was leaving behind a stronger union, with improved welfare structures and an updated constitution designed to reflect changing realities in the energy industry.
He urged the incoming leadership to sustain the culture of engagement and continue prioritising workers’ welfare amid fluctuations in global oil prices, changing industry dynamics and the transition towards cleaner energy.
“The oil and gas sector is strategic to Nigeria. If there is stability there, the entire economy feels it,” Osifo said.
“Our responsibility as PENGASSAN is to ensure that those who work in the sector are protected, motivated, and their rights are not trampled upon.”
