The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) says Nigeria’s state-owned refineries are failing due to political interference, corruption, and mismanagement rather than lack of skilled manpower.
PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, made this known on Friday at the 4th PENGASSAN and Labour Summit (PEALS 2025) in Abuja, themed “Building a Resilient Oil and Gas Sector in Nigeria: Advancing HSE, ESG, Investment and Incremental Production.”
Osifo said workers have repeatedly been denied the tools, resources, and enabling environment to deliver effectively. He explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigerian workers successfully ran offshore platforms after expatriates left, proving local competence in sustaining global-standard operations.
He warned that policy inconsistencies and political interference undermine investor confidence, stressing that fiscal predictability is crucial for attracting investment into Nigeria’s energy sector. He also called for prioritising worker training to keep Nigerians globally competitive.
In a goodwill message, Trade Union Congress (TUC) Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, commended PENGASSAN’s foresight and urged other unions to emulate the initiative, describing dialogue and innovation as vital for strengthening workers’ welfare and collective bargaining.
(NAN)