Nigeria’s refinery troubles stem from entrenched political interference and corruption rather than a shortage of skilled manpower, the country’s leading oil and gas union has said.
Speaking at the 4th PENGASSAN and Labour Summit in Abuja, Festus Osifo, President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), argued that refinery workers have long been constrained by poor policy decisions and lack of investment.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigerian workers managed offshore platforms without disruption after expatriates departed. This proves we have the expertise, but what is lacking are the tools and the enabling environment,” he said.
Osifo criticised frequent changes to petroleum laws, saying such inconsistency discourages investment and delays growth. He urged government and industry leaders to provide policy stability, long-term fiscal clarity, and investment in worker training to ensure Nigeria’s competitiveness in a changing global energy market.
Trade Union Congress Secretary General, Nuhu Toro, described the summit as a “model platform for strategic dialogue” and encouraged other unions to adopt similar approaches to strengthen collective bargaining power.
