By Amarachi Jim-Nwoko
ABUJA (PRESISE POST) – The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called for stronger, smarter and more predictable regulatory frameworks to attract investment, protect workers and drive sustainable growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The president of the association Festus Osifo, made the call at the 2026 edition of its PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit (PEALS), where he stressed that regulatory uncertainty, lengthy approval processes and overlapping mandates among government agencies could undermine investment and production in the sector.
The PELS 2026, themed “Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks as a Catalyst for Stability and Growth in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry,” brought together government officials, regulators, operators, investors, labour leaders and other industry stakeholders to examine challenges affecting the sector and proffer practical solutions.
Osifo, said the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 represented a major milestone in efforts to reform the industry, but expressed concern over subsequent changes to some of its fiscal provisions and the use of executive orders to amend aspects of the law.
According to the him, such developments could weaken investor confidence by creating uncertainty around the regulatory and fiscal environment.
He, urged regulators to eliminate unnecessary duplication in approvals and inspections, harmonise their mandates and deploy technology to make regulatory processes more efficient.
PENGASSAN maintained that Nigeria did not need weaker regulations but “smarter regulation” that would provide effective oversight while giving investors and operators the certainty required to make long-term decisions.
The president raised concerns over the protection of workers during acquisitions and divestments, insisting that changes in ownership of oil and gas assets should not result in the arbitrary loss of jobs, pensions, benefits and collective bargaining rights.
According to Osifo, expatriate positions should be tied to clear succession plans, understudy arrangements and measurable knowledge transfer to ensure that Nigerian workers eventually acquire the expertise required to occupy such positions.
The association also called for greater investment in domestic refining, gas processing and LPG, PNG and LNG infrastructure, noting that Nigeria’s vast gas resources could support power generation, petrochemicals, fertiliser production, transportation and industrialisation.
It urged stakeholders to consolidate recent improvements in production, unlock new reserves, attract fresh capital and sustainably increase crude oil and gas output.
On workers’ welfare, PENGASSAN stressed that occupational safety, environmental protection, fair labour practices and operational integrity must remain central to the industry, warning that the life of a Nigerian worker must never be sacrificed in the pursuit of increased production.
It also advocated stronger collaboration among government, regulators, operators and labour, arguing that sustainable industrial growth could only be achieved through accountability, transparency, mutual respect and predictable policies.
The association said true industrial harmony went beyond the absence of strikes and disputes, describing it as the presence of justice, effective communication, responsible engagement and shared prosperity.
The PENGASSAN president, also highlighted the activities of the PENGASSAN Foundation, which it said had supported underserved communities through school construction and renovation, payment of hospital bills for indigent Nigerians, provision of transformers to communities and distribution of reading materials to people living with disabilities.
He went further, in a personal reflection at the event, disclosed that the 2026 summit would be his last as president of the association, ahead of the National Delegates Conference scheduled for August 22.
He expressed satisfaction with the growth of PEALS since its maiden edition in 2022, saying the summit had evolved into a major platform for engagement between labour, government, regulators, operators and investors.
He urged future leadership to sustain and expand the initiative, stressing that PEALS should continue to influence energy policy and protect the interests of workers.
