The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called for a salary benchmark for oil and gas workers in the country.
The union said the demand was because of the untold hardship workers in the sector are facing because of recent policy direction of President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government.
Speaking at the second PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit, the National President of the union, Comrade Festus Osifo, added that current situation in the sector only benefits government and oil and gas companies in Nigeria.
Comrade Osifo further stressed the need for a conscious and innovative solution to restore financial losses to workers by preventing undue gains to oil companies.
According to him, PENGASSAN is aligning with the instrument of trade of the oil and gas commodity, citing a model practiced in Angola where legislation pegs workers’ salaries in dollars and pay them the legal tender equivalent.
Osifo said, “Recent policy direction of government has placed untold hardship on Nigerians, chief of which is the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) subsidy removal and the floating of naira-dollar exchange rate. The overarching impact of this on Nigerians can only be imagined rather than experienced.
“Part of the decisions of floatation has only benefited the government and oil and gas companies in Nigeria. This has necessitated a call for a salary benchmark for oil and gas workers, aligning with instrument of trade of the oil and gas commodity.
“The model practiced in Angola where legislation pegs workers’ salaries in dollars and pay them the legal tender equivalent is a testament to the possibilities of safeguarding the interests of workers amidst currency fluctuations.
“The floating of the naira in the official market has exacerbated the challenges faced by our members. We must explore innovation solutions to forestall financial losses to workers and prevent undue gains to companies, ensuring a fair and equitable environment for all. PENGASSAN will do all it can to push for this just and equitable distribution across its branches.”
On the theme of this year’s summit, ‘Petroleum Downstream Deregulation and Gas Utilisation for a Sustainable Energy Future in Nigeria,’ Comrade Osifo, who is also the President of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), said the theme was carefully chosen due the multifaceted challenges and opportunities inherent in the energy sector.
“This theme was carefully selected given the multifaceted challenges and opportunities inherent in our sector viz a viz the global energy demand to illuminate the path towards a sustainable energy future for Nigeria and by extension Nigerians.”
“We will engage in enlightening discussions, share insights and formulate strategies to address critical issues such as divestment, PMS subsidy removal and the place/role of the ever ready Nigeria workers in the oil and gas industry and it commitment value chain
“We are witnessing a significant shift in our landscape of the energy in the country, marked by the divestment action of companies such as Mobile producing Nigeria, Nigeria Agip Company SPDC and others.”
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