The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria NUPENGASSAN have strengthened industrial relationship with the two regulatory arms in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
The unions paid a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission NUPRC in Abuja,which afforded them with the opportunity to meet with the heads of the two agencies in the sector.
The Presidents of PENGASSAN, Comrade. Festus Osifo and NUPENG, Comrade Williams Akporeha led the delegation.
Speaking at Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority,President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Festus Osifo, expressed delight at the appointment of Farouk Ahmed as the CEO of the organization .
He described Ahmed’s choice as well deserved following his wealth of experience and achievements in the nation’s oil and gas sector spanning decades.
He assured that PENGASSAN under his watch,will collaborate with his administration towards making the industry a pride of place for the benefit of the government, investors and workers.
He lauded the boss for some positive actions he undertook on assumption of office that have stabilized the operations and working conditions of workers drawn from the proscribed agencies that metamorphosed into the new agency
Osifo, however urged him to address the remaining issues with the same used. “as an Association, what concerns us more is the interest of the workers being integrated into the new entity. Our position is that joint committees should be fully involved and carried along”.
In his remarjs,Farouk Ahmed, re-emphasized the cordial relationship he enjoyed with NUPENGASSAN in the past and urged them to maintain it as well as represent the interest of their members effectively and wisely.
He added: “Our policy here is based on engagement, communication and transparency. We are concerned about the welfare of the workers, every outstanding promotions will be addressed despite some encumbrances and challenges encountered during the merger.
At the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Commission Chief Executive, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, promised to collaborate with the two oil and gas industry unions, for industrial harmony and smooth operations of the sector.
He explained that the objective of the collaboration was to foster appropriate synergy to enable smooth operations in overriding national interest.
He disclosed that since his assumption of office, staff welfare has been his cardinal focus and that was the reason he immediately implemented the promotion of staff who had been stagnated over the years to motivate and promote industrial harmony.
He emphasized that he set up work teams on assumption of office with clear terms of reference to address issues of staff welfare like legacy issues which requires redress for the sake of justice and fairness.
He promised that as part and parcel of the union he will continue to promote equity in the affairs of the Commission and in accordance with the Petroleum industry Act (PIA) 2021
Congratulating the CCE on his appointment ,the visiting labour leaders assured him of their readiness to collaborate with the commission in all areas of oil and gas industry operations as a major stakeholder.
