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 association’s 1st Quadrennial National Delegate Conference held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
Olabiyi, who took over from Comrade Festus Osifo, delivered his acceptance speech shortly after his election, expressing deep gratitude to God, PENGASSAN delegates, members, past leaders and the outgoing national leadership for entrusting him with the leadership of the association.
He particularly acknowledged the contributions of former PENGASSAN presidents, including Comrade Pa Austin Ezenwaka, who served from 1990 to 1992; Comrade Alhaji Ganiyu Owodunni, April 29 to August 18, 1994; Comrade Chief Shina Luwoye, 1998 to 2003; Comrade Dr Brown Ogbeifun, 2003 to 2005; Comrade Peter Esele, 2006 to 2008; Comrade Babatunde Ogun, 2008 to 2014; and the immediate past president, Comrade Festus Osifo, who served from 2020 to 2026.
Olabiyi paid glowing tribute to Osifo, describing him as a “leader, builder and fighter” whose tenure strengthened PENGASSAN, enhanced its influence and positioned the association more prominently in national labour and energy-sector discussions.
He said Osifo defended workers’ jobs during divestments, fought for improved Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) and their implementation, and ensured that PENGASSAN had a stronger voice at the highest levels of government.
“Comrade, on behalf of over 30,000 PENGASSAN members, I say thank you. Your legacy is our foundation, and we will carefully and consciously build upon it to the benefit of our members, Nigerian workers and the country at large,” Olabiyi said.
The new president also described himself as one of Osifo’s major legacies, recalling the support he received from the former president at a difficult period in his career.
Olabiyi appealed to the National Executive Council, Central Working Committee, branch executives and delegates to support the new administration, stressing that the responsibility before the leadership was enormous.
According to him, the mandate represents the concerns of every PENGASSAN member, from workers awaiting salaries to engineers demanding fairness, young professionals facing uncertainty in the energy-transition era and female workers confronting discrimination and workplace harassment.
He assured members that the new leadership would work collectively and lead with the fear of God, commitment and unity.
The new PENGASSAN president outlined five cardinal areas that would guide his administration, while stressing that other important issues would not be neglected.
He identified protection of jobs and membership drive as the first priority, promising that no PENGASSAN member would be left behind in the face of divestments, business reorganisation, automation and the energy transition.
He said the association would negotiate for just-transition agreements, retraining and redeployment whenever discussions involving workers’ jobs arise, while safety, welfare and dignity would remain non-negotiable.
Olabiyi also expressed optimism over the rising activities and recruitment in the oil and gas industry, saying the trend should continue rather than allow job losses to become a permanent feature of the sector.
On collective bargaining and industrial relations, he said agreements reached with employers must be respected and implemented.
He stated that PENGASSAN would work with management as partners with different responsibilities, stressing that the union would collaborate wherever there was fairness but resist injustice peacefully, lawfully and effectively.
He also promised timely communication, good-faith negotiations and adherence to agreements reached between the union and employers.
On training, women empowerment, staff welfare and stakeholder management, Olabiyi said PENGASSAN must become future-ready by investing in digital skills, leadership development and mentorship.
He promised greater opportunities for women and young professionals to participate in decision-making and said the union would continue to work towards ensuring competitive remuneration and improved welfare for its staff.
He further promised an open relationship with the media and greater engagement with journalists as part of efforts to communicate the activities and achievements of the association.
On internal unity, the new president said his administration would prioritise internal democracy, financial transparency and stronger support for branches.
He commended the outgoing administration under Osifo for what he described as its success in bringing members together, noting that zonal delegates’ conferences, special delegates’ conferences and National Executive Council meetings were conducted without the rancour and bitterness that had characterised such processes in some previous periods.
He pledged to extend a hand of fellowship to members who may still feel aggrieved, while mentioning Kolawole Atipo, Kings Udoidua, Ete Oyengberen and Peter Asemota in the context of the association’s broader reconciliation efforts.
On PENGASSAN’s public image, Olabiyi promised to build on initiatives established by previous administrations and further position the association as more than just a trade union.
He said PENGASSAN would continue to support Nigerians in need, contribute to the socio-economic development of communities where its members operate and use social media platforms to promote positive impact.
Addressing government and management partners, Olabiyi said PENGASSAN was not anti-business but “pro-Nigeria,” stressing that increased production, investment and protection of Nigerian content could only be achieved when workers were respected and treated fairly.
He called for early engagement between employers and the union to resolve issues before they develop into industrial crises, while emphasising mutual respect and adherence to agreed rules of engagement.
“Let us sit at the table early. Let us solve problems before they become crises,” he said.
Turning directly to PENGASSAN members, Olabiyi assured them that his office would remain accessible and responsive to their concerns.
“If your branch is hurting, PENGASSAN HQ will feel it. If your company is cheating you, PENGASSAN will fight it,” he declared.
He said the new administration would build on Osifo’s foundation rather than dismantle it, improve what works and correct areas requiring improvement.
However, the new president reserved some of his strongest remarks for the growing practice of contract staffing and casualisation in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
He described the practice as a menace that required urgent collective action, while clarifying that PENGASSAN was not opposed to legitimate contract staffing.
According to him, workers who have remained in the same positions for two, five, 10 or even 20 years should no longer be treated as temporary workers.
“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.
Olabiyi accused some employers of using contract staffing to exploit workers, promote marginalisation and cut costs, warning that the union would deploy every available resource to interrogate the practice.
He further linked the issue to health and safety concerns in workplaces, indicating that the new administration would make contract staffing and casualisation a major area of engagement with employers and other stakeholders.
He concluded by appealing for the continued support and solidarity of PENGASSAN members, promising to work to earn their trust.
“We believe that together everyone achieves more,” he said, before ending with the traditional labour movement declaration: “Aluta Continua, Victoria Accerta.”
The newly elected national officers of PENGASSAN are Bosun Olabiyi, President; George Nwoko, Deputy President; Dominic Abang, National Industrial Relations Officer; Amaoge Chukwudi, National Treasurer; Tijani Oyabure, National Financial Secretary; Lavin Aghaunor, National Public Relations Officer; Ada Maryam Mbanaso, National Chairperson, PWC; Chidinma Anyanwu, National Secretary, PWC; Rex Orji, National Auditor I; and Muhammad Sani Ismail, National Auditor II.
The only position contested during the election was that of National Auditor I, where Comrade Rex Orji of Indorama Petrochemical Company defeated Comrade Ese Okusi.
Orji polled 254 votes against Okusi’s 84 votes and was subsequently declared the winner.
The conference brought together PENGASSAN delegates, past leaders, government representatives, senior management and partners in the oil and gas industry, labour leaders, observers and members of the media.
With the transition completed, the Olabiyi-led administration is expected to steer PENGASSAN through a period marked by energy transition, industry restructuring, divestments, changing employment models and growing debates over workers’ rights and job security.
The new president ended by praying for the continued progress of PENGASSAN and Nigeria, saying, “God bless PENGASSAN. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Aluta Continua, Victoria Accerta.”
