By Miriam Ike, Abuja.

President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Comrade (Engr.) Festus Osifo, says his tenure has been defined by structural reforms and decisive interventions that stabilized the union during Nigeria’s economic downturn.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Osifo said he spearheaded branch-level negotiations on wages and allowances to cushion workers against the impact of the 2023 naira devaluation and rising inflation.

He added that his “hands-on shop floor” approach helped resolve contract reviews, disputes and redundancy threats without shutting down operations in the oil and gas sector.

Osifo also disclosed that he instituted internal succession reforms to eliminate leadership friction and ensure continuity within PENGASSAN.

Leveraging his dual role as PENGASSAN President and President of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, he said he pushed for upward review of the national minimum wage and advocated for policies addressing the socioeconomic challenges facing energy sector workers.

Meanwhile, industry observers say Osifo’s leadership has greatly helped to maintain industrial harmony in PENGASSAN at a time of high inflation, currency volatility and job insecurity.