COMRADE Bosun Olabiyi-Agoro has emerged as the new President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) following the conclusion of the union’s 1st Quadrennial National Delegate Conference held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Olabiyi succeeds Comrade Festus Osifo and, in his acceptance speech, pledged to prioritise the protection of jobs, strengthen industrial relations and confront the growing challenge of contract staffing and casualisation in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
He expressed appreciation to delegates, members, past leaders and the outgoing leadership for entrusting him with the mandate to lead the association.
Paying tribute to Osifo, whom he described as a “leader, builder and fighter,” Olabiyi commended the immediate past president for defending workers’ jobs during industry divestments, securing improved collective bargaining agreements and enhancing PENGASSAN’s influence in national labour and energy sector discussions.
The new president outlined five priority areas for his administration, including job protection and membership growth, stronger industrial relations, training and women empowerment, internal unity and improved public image for the association.
He assured members that PENGASSAN would pursue just transition agreements, retraining and redeployment programmes to safeguard workers amid automation, divestments and the ongoing energy transition.
On industrial relations, Olabiyi said agreements reached with employers must be honoured, stressing that the union would collaborate where there is fairness but resist injustice through lawful and peaceful means.
He also pledged greater investment in digital skills, leadership development and mentorship programmes, while promising increased participation for women and young professionals in decision-making processes.
Addressing concerns over casualisation, Olabiyi described the practice as a growing menace in the oil and gas sector, noting that workers who remain in the same positions for years should not continue to be classified as temporary staff.
“A job that someone has been doing for over two years, five years, 10 years, even 20 years or more cannot be categorised as a temporary position anymore,” he said, warning that PENGASSAN would deploy all available resources to challenge exploitative labour practices.
Olabiyi also assured government and industry stakeholders that PENGASSAN remained committed to constructive engagement, saying the association was “pro-Nigeria” and supportive of increased investment, production and local content development, provided workers are treated fairly.
The conference also produced other national officers by consensus, which include George Nwoko as Deputy President, Dominic Abang as National Industrial Relations Officer, Amaoge Chukwudi as National Treasurer, Tijani Oyabure as National Financial Secretary, Lavin Aghaunor as National Public Relations Officer, Ada Maryam Mbanaso as National Chairperson of the PWC, Chidinma Anyanwu as National Secretary of the PWC, Rex Orji as National Auditor I and Muhammad Sani Ismail as National Auditor II.
The only contested position during the election was that of National Auditor I, where Rex Orji defeated Ese Okusi by polling 254 votes against 84 votes.
The conference attracted delegates, labour leaders, government representatives, industry stakeholders, observers and members of the media.
