…Re-elects Osifo as president
By Bimbola Oyesola
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has tasked the incoming government to ensure development of the oil and gas sector with emphasis on local content.
This is even as the union has re-elected Festus Osifo for another term at the union’s delegate conference held in Abuja on Thursday.
Osifo advised the Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s incoming government to consult widely and fast track the implementation of the different sections of the petroleum Act for the benefits of Nigerians.
Osifo in his speech at the just concluded PENGASSAN 7th Triennial National Delegates Conference, noted that the provision of the Act that will further deepen the development of the midstream sector of the Nigeria oil and gas industry should be on the top burner of the new government’s agenda.
This, he said will lead to the provision of gas infrastructure that will in turn aid gas development and help in harnessing the vast reserves in the country.
He warned that the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) must not be made to go through arm twisting tactical bureaucratic monsters that bedevilled the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
“The host community development fund and trust should be immediately constituted,” he said.
He expressed that members of the union are quite happy with the current rehabilitation going on in Nigerian refineries, most especially the Port Harcourt refinery.
He said, “We will also continue to advocate for the adoption of the NLNG model in the running of the nation’’s four refineries when fully revamped and the creation of an enabling environment for the establishment and operation of modular and private refineries.
“The incoming government must do all within it’s reach to see to the conclusion of the current rehabilitation effect and initiatives that is currently in place so that our nation’s refinery will come up in no time.”
He said that PENGASSAN will continue to lend it’s voice and support to policies that would put the nations oil and gas sector in good shape to enable it compete with its peers in other parts of the world.
The President lamented that the nations economy is confronted with many serious challenges like structural imbalance, corruption, weak human capital development, inequality, security challenges and excessive dependence on oil for revenue.
Osifo who was re-elected as PENGASSAN President also doubles as the president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The TUC president was unanimously elected unopposed at the PENGASSAN 7th Triennial National Delegates Congress.
Also elected alongside Osifo to constitute a new Central Working Committee (CWC) for the next three years includes, Kabiru Dan Azumi, former national treasurer as the new deputy president replacing Owan Abua who was recently promoted out of the union by his organization.
Aliu Dauda the immediate past chairman of Kaduna zone was elected as the financial secretary, and Kingsley Udoidua, national public relations officer, replacing Anietie Udoh who served out his tenure. Also elected is Ada Mbaneso Maryann as chairperson of PENGASSAN Women’s Commission and Chidinma Anyanwu as Secretary. Charles Ogbowu retained his position as national auditor (i)while Ese Okusi is the new national auditor (ii). David Owan defeated Leroy Musa to emerge the national treasurer, and Dr. Eze Ifeanyi was elected as the bational Industrial Relations officer after defeating Innocent Ugwunta former Port Harcourt zone secretary.
The new national officers were sworn in by Lumumba Okugbawa, General Secretary PENGASSAN who served as the returning officer.
The Registrar of Trade Unions supervised the election.
Osifo in his acceptance speech commended the Association’s members for conducting one of the most peaceful union elections.
He said, “this is a testimony of the good programs and policies of the past three years.”