CSO faults PENGASSAN’s silence, insists on probe into ‘maltreatment of Nigerians’ at IOC

The Movement of Intellectuals for National Development (MIND), a civil society organisation, has criticised the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over what it described as a lack of action regarding the treatment of Nigerian staff of an oil company.

In a statement, MIND expressed disappointment at PENGASSAN’s attempts to distance itself from a petition submitted to Nigeria’s Senate concerning the alleged mistreatment of local employees. 

Ebi Warekromo, the Western coordinator for MIND, said the petition was based on documented evidence and the experiences of affected workers. He noted that PENGASSAN’s local branch had previously raised concerns about labour practices and management issues at the company, including matters involving expatriate staff.

According to the group, serious violations, including security breaches and non-compliance with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, have resulted from the alleged extension of expatriate roles beyond approved limits. 

MIND argued that describing the concerns as internal matters is misleading and does not address the issues raised. Warekromo said the reported rights violations should not be hidden under confidentiality, adding, “When issues continue to adversely affect workers, they should not be confined to internal discussions.”

MIND also said PENGASSAN’s engagement must produce results or attract external scrutiny. Warekromo stated that the group is concerned about what it described as the union’s reluctance to address grievances raised by members, questioning its effectiveness in representing workers. 

The organisation called for a public inquiry into the issues and urged authorities to hold the international company accountable.

The statement read in part: ‘’MIND wishes to state clearly that our intervention is not an attack on PENGASSAN as an institution. It is a response to a vacuum of effective representation that has allowed oppressive practices to persist unchecked. Where unions fail or refuse to act decisively, civil society has both the right and the duty to step in.

‘’If PENGASSAN truly has nothing to hide, nothing to fear, and nothing to explain, it should welcome rather than resist public scrutiny.

‘’Accordingly, MIND formally challenges the leadership of PENGASSAN to make itself available for a transparent public hearing before the Nigerian Senate, alongside other relevant stakeholders, to openly address the substance of the grievances.

‘’Attempts to intimidate whistleblowers or investigate breaches of confidentiality only deepen public concern and reinforce the perception of institutional complicity.

‘’The Nigerian public, Nigerian workers, and the Senate of the Federal Republic deserve honesty, not distancing statements, procedural excuses, or selective amnesia.

‘’MIND remains steadfast in its commitment to justice, fairness, and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive sector.

‘’We urge PENGASSAN’s leadership to reflect deeply on the path it is choosing and to realign itself with the workers whose dues, trust, and mandate give it legitimacy.’’