A Nigerian oil sector union faces internal turmoil as over 500 members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) have rejected the appointment of an interim leadership committee, calling it unconstitutional. The dispute highlights simmering tensions tied to reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021, which restructured the country’s energy sector.
The dissenting congress members accused PENGASSAN’s national president, Festus Osifo, of overstepping union rules by installing unelected caretaker leaders after the NMDPRA branch’s executive committee concluded its term on May 27, 2025. In a July 4 letter to the NMDPRA’s chief executive, the group argued that Section 31.4 of PENGASSAN’s constitution permits caretaker committees only if a branch is dissolved—not when its leadership’s tenure expires. They emphasized that since the branch was not dissolved, the committee’s formation was “illegal, unconstitutional, and of no effect,” undermining democratic processes and member participation.
The letter, also sent to Nigeria’s National Security Adviser and State Security Service, revealed that the branch had already convened a congress on June 14 to form an electoral committee for fresh polls. It urged NMDPRA management to avoid recognizing the caretaker group and instead support the “lawful electoral process” underway.
However, the contested caretaker committee issued a July 9 rebuttal, dismissing the dissenters’ claims as lacking constitutional authority. It stated that the aggrieved members had no mandate to organize elections or challenge decisions by PENGASSAN’s national leadership, calling their actions “unconstitutional, null and void.” The committee reinforced that any branch elections require approval from the union’s National Executive Council.
The clash traces back to broader reforms under the PIA, which established NMDPRA and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in 2021 to modernize the sector. Critics argue the union’s leadership struggles reflect governance challenges amid institutional overhauls. Osifo, who also serves as president of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, did not respond to requests for comment, leaving tensions unresolved. The standoff risks disrupting operations in a key sector crucial to Nigeria’s economy, with outcomes likely to influence union accountability and regulatory stability.
