IOC divestments: Job security, welfare of workers our priority, PENGASSAN

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has made the job security and welfare of its members its top priorities as international oil companies divest from Nigeria. PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo stated that the union's intervention ensured no members lost their jobs during significant transactions, including those involving ExxonMobil, Shell, Agip, and Equinor. He also highlighted the union's success in securing improved remuneration for its members across the industry.

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One of the things we said clearly when we came on board was our objective: How do we protect the jobs of our members and enhance their pay?

Osifo reflected on how PENGASSAN navigated the wave of divestments, protecting workers' employment and enhancing their pay. He emphasized the union's commitment to supporting businesses that provide employment within the sector. The union's efforts have resulted in a new height of remuneration for its members.

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You know about the divestments that took place in the oil and gas industry. We have said it everywhere that not a single PENGASSAN member lost his or her job as a result of those divestments.

Furthermore, the union announced the resolution of a previously contentious relationship with Dangote Refinery. Through engagement and dialogue, the rift has been mended, leading to the return of about 600 affected workers to the refinery. The relationship has shifted from confrontation to partnership, with PENGASSAN aiming to support the refinery's survival and job creation potential. Osifo stressed the refinery's critical role in Nigeria's energy security and its importance for employment.

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Today, across the length and breadth of the industry, the remuneration of our members has reached a new height.