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Tag: PENGASSAN

  • BREAKING: PENGASSAN orders gas supply cut to Dangote refinery

    BREAKING: PENGASSAN orders gas supply cut to Dangote refinery

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has ordered its members across key oil and gas companies to halt supply of crude oil and gas to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

    The order followed the alleged sack of 800 workers by Dangote Petroleum Refinery last Thursday. 

    In a memo by the General Secretary of  PENGASSAN, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, to Branch chairmen in TotalEnergies, Renaissances, Chevron, Shell Nigeria Gas, Oando, and Seplat Producing Nigeria Unlimited. PENGASSAN directed the immediate shutdown of valves and suspension of all crude loading operations to the facility.

    Read Also: Group cautions against sabotage of Dangote Refinery

    “INGC chairman, ensure that gas supply to the refinery is cut off effective immediately,” the directive reads in part.

    The move comes just two after the Dangote Refinery disengaged about 800 workers, describing the exercise as part of an ongoing reorganisation to protect the facility from repeated acts of sabotage that had raised safety concerns and hampered operations.

    Details Shortly…

  • Dangote Refinery, PENGASSAN clash over fate of 800 workers

    Dangote Refinery, PENGASSAN clash over fate of 800 workers

    • Company says action necessary to safeguard facility
    • Union kicks, warns of consequences
    • Reps committee opens investigation into NNPC Ltd/OVH Energy acquisition

    The Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals on Thursday laid off about 800 workers in its employment.

    Although the refinery’s management explained that the exercise is part of a major reorganisation to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that have raised safety concerns and affected operational efficiency, organised labour said the action is the climax of a lingering face-off with the firm over labour related issues bordering on unionization of workers.

    A memo signed by the Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management at Dangote Group, Femi Adekunle, a copy of which was sighted by The Nation, confirmed the disengagement of the workers yesterday.

    The total reorganisation of the refinery, Adekunle said, followed multiple cases of reported sabotage across refinery units that posed major safety risks.

    According to the contents of the memo, the management was left with no choice but to carry out a total reorganisation of the refinery, effective Thursday, September 25, 2025.

    Read Also: Ondo police arrest ‘notorious gunrunner’ supplying arms to Osun, Kogi, Edo, Kwara

    The employees were told to give all company property to their line managers and obtain an exit clearance, with the specific date for the process to be communicated later.

    “The Finance Department, by a copy of this letter, is advised to compute all your benefits and entitlements in line with your terms of employment and conditions of service and pay the amount due to you (less all indebtedness), subject to the condition that you have obtained the exit clearance certificate as mentioned above,” Adekunle stated in the memo.

    Late yesterday, following the outrage from labour unions, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, in response, explained that it is not an arbitrary exercise but one necessary to safeguard the $20 billion facility.

    It said over 3,000 Nigerians continue to work actively in the Refinery at present, and only a very small number of staff were affected. The firm also assured that it would continue to recruit Nigerian talent through its various graduate trainee programmes and experienced hire recruitment process.

    “This exercise is not arbitrary. It has become necessary to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that have raised safety concerns and affected operational efficiency.

    “The foregoing decision was taken in the best interest of the Refinery as a result of intermittent cases of sabotage in the various units of the Refinery with dire consequences on human life and related safety concerns.

    “We remain vigilant to our internal systems and vulnerabilities to ensure the long-term stability of this strategic national asset.

    “It is imperative to protect the refinery for the benefit of Nigerians, our partners across Africa and the thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on it.

    “We recognise and uphold internationally accepted labour principles, including the right of every worker to freely decide whether or not to join a union.

    “Our commitment to workers’ rights is unwavering.

    “The Dangote Petroleum Refinery exists to serve Nigerians, to strengthen Africa’s energy independence, and to create decent, sustainable jobs.

    “We will continue to work in partnership with our employees, regulators and stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of safety, transparency, and accountability,” a statement from Dangote said.

    But the organised labour, through the leadership of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), expressed outrage over the development, calling it “anti-labour practices.”

    In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba lghotefmu Okugbawa, the union regretted the development, urging the management of the Dangote Refinery to recall all terminated Nigerian workers.

    It also warned that the union might be left with no other option but to commence exploring all sections of the Nigerian Constitution and the relevant labour laws for solution.

     “We are deeply saddened to report the unjust termination of over 800 Nigerian workers, whose dedication and service have been integral to the operations of this plant.

    “Instead of valuing and retaining this workforce, Management has chosen to replace these qualified Nigerians with over 2,000 Indian workers, many of whom lack valid immigration documentation,” PENGASSAN stated.

    It noted that Section 7 of the Labour Act prohibits discrimination and ensures the right to fair treatment in the workplace; a section it said Dangote Refinery are glaringly in violation of.

    PENGASSAN further noted that the dismissal of such a significant number of Nigerian workers without due consultation or any transparent justification contravenes the legal rights granted to all employees in Nigeria.

    “We will not tolerate this blatant disregard for the rights of Nigerian workers, particularly in light of the existing provisions under the Trade Union Act, which enshrines the right of workers to organise and join trade unions.

    “The recent organisation of these workers as members of PENGASSAN underscores their collective power and right to protection under the law.

    “We emphasise that such actions illustrate a troubling trend towards the marginalisation of Nigerian workers in favour of foreign labour, which we cannot, and will not, tolerate.

    “The sacrifice and talents of our workforce deserve respect and we demand accountability from employers who possess a social responsibility to the communities they operate in.

    “Furthermore, we would be remiss to overlook the broader implications of Dangote Group’s capitalistic pursuits beyond the confines of the refinery sector.

    “Instances of exploitative practices have been reported in various sectors where the company maintains significant business interests.

    “The relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of local talent, ethical employment practices, and community welfare is unacceptable.

    “We stand resolute in our commitment to uphold the rights of Nigerian workers and will take all necessary legal actions open to us as an Association to ensure that they are afforded the dignity and respect they deserve.

    “We have scheduled an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to direct the Association on the way forward.

    “We call on all Nigerians therefore to support this cause and to stand against the exploitation of our workforce by capitalists who seek to undermine our national priorities for their profit.

    “This slave labour of our brothers and sisters must not stand,” PENGASSAN said in its statement.

    But the management of Dangote refinery has swiftly debunked the allegation of mass sacking of its staff because of joining the Association.

    The refinery described the allegation as both unfounded and misleading, noting that the re-organisation within its workforce was aimed at strengthening operations and addressing repeated acts of sabotage.

    Reassuring employees and stakeholders, the refinery reaffirmed its commitment to internationally accepted labour principles, including workers’ freedom to decide on union membership without interference.

    It emphasised that the exercise was an audit process to safeguard the long-term stability of what it described as a strategic national asset.

  • Planned sale of oil, gas assets could plunge economy into crisis – PENGASSAN, NUPENG, warn FG

    Planned sale of oil, gas assets could plunge economy into crisis – PENGASSAN, NUPENG, warn FG

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have rejected alleged plans by the federal government to divest significant stakes in Joint Venture (JV) assets, managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

    The two unions warned that the move to allegedly amend the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and remove the running of oil and gas from the NNPCL could endanger the country’s economic stability, weaken its oil industry, and jeopardise the welfare of workers.

    The oil workers urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and halt the plan.

    Addressing a joint briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, PENGASSAN President, Comrade Festus Osifo, alongside his NUPENG counterpart, Williams Akporeha, said the proposed sale would not only undermine national revenue but also mortgage the future of coming generations.

    The oil workers argued that the government’s plan to cut its stakes in JV assets, currently between 55 and 60 percent by as much as 30 to 35 percent for quick cash, was short-sighted and dangerous.

    The unions recalled past divestments by international oil companies such as ENI, ExxonMobil, and Shell, which saw their Nigerian operations acquired by domestic firms.

    The unions insisted that further sales of government stakes would leave NNPC Ltd weakened and unable to meet critical obligations such as salaries, benefits, and national budget contributions.

    Osifo said, “The government wants to reduce its stake in these assets; principally, they want to sell huge percentages in these assets. In some places, they sell up to 35 percent, in some places they sell up to 30 percent, so that they will have some cash to spend in other areas.

    “That is the excuse that they are giving. But as an association, as PENGASSAN and NUPENG, we say no, no, no to this. You cannot mortgage our future today, and tomorrow we will be starving as a country.

    “If we allow this to continue, it has a way of making NNPC bankrupt in the next few years. There are obligations that must be met; the chief of these obligations is the payment of staff salaries and the welfare of our members.

    Read Also: Group defends NUPENG, PENGASSAN amid dispute with Dangote

    “Whoever mooted this idea, whether from the Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Finance, NNPC Ltd, or the Presidency itself, we reject it 100 percent.”

    He added, “As you could recall a while ago, there were some divestments that took place in some of these JVs. If you could remember very well, in the ENI, Nigeria Agip Oil Company, it was bought over by Oando Energy and Natural Resources. And also, Seplat bought over the JV components of ExxonMobil.

    “Today, there is a plan being moved by the government to reduce its stake in these JV operations. Currently, the government holds between 55 percent to 60 percent of the JV assets in these companies. That is the stake of the government today. And this stake of the government today is being managed by NMPC Limited. So, they manage this JV on behalf of the Federation.

    “Remember, every crude oil asset in Nigeria, every oil well in Nigeria, is not just owned by the federal government, but it is owned by the federation. And NNPC Limited is managing these assets on behalf of the federation. So the federation is everybody, collectively.”

    On the concern over the alleged ongoing moves to amend the PIA, passed in 2021 after decades of debate, they alleged that the Ministry of Finance was seeking to remove the Ministry of Petroleum from joint ownership of NNPC Ltd, which they described as an aberration and a backdoor attempt to hijack the company.

    The two union leaders said that the amendments would strip NNPC Ltd of its core national role, undermine investor confidence, and eventually drive the company into bankruptcy.

    They said, “As a responsible association, we will fight this with everything in us because we strongly believe that these amendments that they are proposing it is not correct, they are totally wrong.

    “We have seen that it is a national oil company that manages the PLC on behalf of a country, on behalf of a federation. So, if you don’t have ulterior motives, why do you want to move? Yes, we are happy because we also have members in the regulatory arm. But, unfortunately, the regulators are supposed to be the police of the industry.

    “The regulators are supposed to be there to ensure that everybody plays according to the rules. So, it is totally wrong if you don’t have ulterior motives to say that you want to move the NNPCL management to the regulator as a concession. It is totally not correct.

    “So, for us, we are totally against this. Let us do what is right as a country. What they are doing today is sending negative signals to the investors.

    “What they are doing today, they are telling the world that yes, we have passed PIA. It is a law, but they don’t rely on the law that we have passed. That is clearly what they are doing as a government.

    “And I think President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should look at this carefully and should call these people to order. He should call the Minister of Finance. He should call the Board Chairman of the NNPCL, he should call GCEO and NNPCL to order, and let them understand that this is not the direction to go.

    “If all these were done before he came on board, I’m not sure that he would be able to get revenue to drive the budget. So, for us, we are sending a strong warning to them that they should cease because it’s teaching time, save time.”

  • Why Nigeria refineries are failing – PENGASSAN

    Why Nigeria refineries are failing – PENGASSAN

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has identified political interference which denied workers the tools, resources, and enabling environment to deliver effectively as the reasons why the government  owned refineries are failing in Nigeria.

    The association’s President, Festus Osifo,  who stated this yesterday  at the ongoing 4th PENGASSAN and Labour Summit (PEALS 2025), also identified widespread corruption and mismanagement as reasons for the failure of the refineries.

    The three-day summit holding in Abuja is themed, “Building a Resilient Oil and Gas Sector in Nigeria: Advancing HSE, ESG, Investment and Incremental Production.

    Osifo said Nigeria’s energy future requires more than skilled manpower and there is the urgent need for tools, policy stability, and supportive reforms to drive growth in the energy sector.

    Read Also: PENGASSAN Foundation donates relief items to victims of Yelewata attack in Benue

    According to him, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigerian workers successfully operated offshore platforms after expatriates departed.

    He said the development had proven that the country possessed skilled manpower capable of sustaining global-standard energy production without disruption.

    According to Osifo,  policy inconsistencies and political interference undermine investor confidence and cripple the nation’s oil and gas sector.

    He also expressed concerns over frequent changes to petroleum laws, warning they discourage vital investments.

    He added that predictability in fiscal regimes is key to attracting petrodollar into Nigeria’s economy and long-term infrastructure development.

  • PENGASSAN demands urgent refinery reforms

    PENGASSAN demands urgent refinery reforms

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called for urgent reforms in the country’s refineries and cautioned against political interference in the oil and gas sector.

    Mr Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN, made this known on Thursday in Abuja at the ongoing 4th PENGASSAN and Labour Summit 2025, themed “Building a Resilient Oil and Gas Sector in Nigeria: Advancing HSE, ESG, Investment and Incremental Production.”

    Osifo said that Nigeria’s refineries should operate under a model similar to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), where the government holds minority stakes while competent private operators take majority control for efficiency.

    According to him, while Nigeria’s workforce possesses the expertise to manage refineries, the absence of proper tools and the persistence of political interference have led to inefficiency, waste, and recurring breakdowns.

    “Government must divest majority control of the refineries, just as in the NLNG model, where private partners hold 51 per cent while government retains 49 per cent,” he said.

    He further warned that Nigeria’s 37 billion barrels of crude reserves risk remaining underutilised if production continues to hover around two million barrels per day, urging authorities to intensify drilling and exploration.

    The PENGASSAN president stressed that oil revenues should be reinvested in infrastructure, education, and healthcare to promote diversification, citing Dubai’s transformation funded by Abu Dhabi’s oil wealth as a model Nigeria could replicate.

    Osifo commended the recent marginal field bid round, describing it as the most transparent in Nigeria’s history, unlike previous politically influenced allocations that, he said, hindered development due to incompetence.

    He also condemned alleged anti-labour practices, singling out 11PLC for reportedly forcing workers to sign agreements barring union membership.

    He warned that PENGASSAN would resist any attempt to suppress workers’ rights.

    Read Also: PENGASSAN: Policy instability in oil sector may scare investors

    In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Felix Ogba, underscored the need for human capacity development as the bedrock of Nigeria’s oil and gas growth.

    Ogba said the sector’s sustainability depends not only on reserves and infrastructure but also on equipping Nigerians with critical skills in engineering, safety, automation, and digital technologies.

    He highlighted NCDMB’s investments in training, research, and technical innovation, noting that every major oil and gas project must include skill-transfer components.

    He further stressed the importance of prioritizing STEM education, vocational training, and collaboration between government, industry, and labour to prepare a workforce that can adapt to energy transition and automation.

    “Human capacity is the true oil that will sustain Nigeria’s industry for generations,” Ogba said.

    (NAN)

  • PENGASSAN: Policy instability in oil sector may scare investors

    PENGASSAN: Policy instability in oil sector may scare investors

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has warned against incessant policy changes in the oil sector, particularly recent amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). The association noted that the amendments to the PIA Act has unsettled investors.

    President of PENGASSAN, Festus Osifo said this at the opening of the 4th PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit (PEALS) in Abuja yesterday.

    “Policy summersault and frequent changes to laws do not aid stability. At best, it is a disincentive to investment,” Osifo told the gathering full of oil and gas experts.

    This is as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri tasked operators of oil and gas firms in Nigeria to adopt global Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) standards as well as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles in their operations, as a critical factor needed to attract investments.

    Osifo raised the alarm over persistent unsafe practices being practiced in the oil fields and installations, saying many of the operators in the sector cut corners and endanger the lives of many workers in the process.

    Read Also: PENGASSAN Foundation spends N12m on medical bills of patients in FCT

    He said the disturbing practices in some offshore fields, where human beings were seen using ropes to offload materials from boats, instead of cranes, showed human lives are not valued by many operators.

    The PENGASSAN President, who recalled how three members of his union lost their lives in the October 24, 2024 helicopter crash around Bonny, argued that safety in the sector must never be compromised.

    He said: “This is happening in some of the oil and gas installations in Nigeria. Just imagine the cost to human lives. If any of them falls into the waterway, they are gone. Life is truly precious.

    “The true measure of stewardship is ensuring every worker returns home safely. Unsafe conditions must never be the price of resilience.”

    On environmental and governance issues, the PENGASSAN boss said gas flaring must end and polluted sites restored, adding that global financial institutions now demand strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance from oil firms.

    Lokpobiri explained that advanced HSE and ESG in workplaces, creates an environment of trust, safety, and accountability.

    According to him, this, in turn, attracts greater investment, because investors place their money where risks are well-managed and governance is strong.

    He added: “With more investment comes the capacity to upgrade infrastructure, adopt advanced technologies, and expand production.

    “This is the virtuous cycle we are building, one in which PENGASSAN’s commitment to safety, sustainability, and ethics directly fuels national economic growth.

    The minister added that global oil market volatility, rising environmental expectations, and domestic infrastructure gaps present challenges, but insisted the country possesses the tools, the people, and the vision to overcome them.

    “As we move forward, let us remember that our sector’s challenges are not insurmountable. Yes, global oil markets are volatile. Yes, environmental expectations are rising. Yes, infrastructure gaps exist. But we have the tools, the people, and the vision to overcome them. We have a government determined to protect all stakeholders. We have PENGASSAN, capable of driving the culture of safety, discipline, and professionalism that our sector requires. And we have a workforce whose talent, once fully harnessed, can position Nigeria as an energy powerhouse,” he said.

    Earlier, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Bayo Ojulari said resilience in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is not optional but a national obligation.

    Ojulari stressed that in today’s energy market, companies are judged not only by production output but also by their adherence to ESG values.

    He noted that NNPC is embedding a Zero Harm culture across its operations by implementing an Energy Transition Roadmap, cutting carbon emissions, and investing in gas as Nigeria’s transition fuel.

    On investment, the NNPC chief explained that the PIA act has created the framework to transform Nigeria’s investment climate, but warned that policy coherence and stakeholder alignment were essential to de-risk the environment.

    He further outlined NNPC’s plan to grow output through rigorous field development, securing oil and gas infrastructure, and unlocking stranded assets.

    “Every barrel counts. Every molecule of gas counts. Incremental production will not come from one big move, but from many smart, coordinated actions across the value chain,” Ojulari added.

    Also speaking, Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, pledged the government’s commitment to workers’ safety, decent wages and skills development.

    Dingyadi assured that the government would work closely with unions and regulators to raise health, safety, and environment standards.

    “We all know that health and safety are non-negotiable pillars of any resilient energy system. Therefore, advancing our HSE standards is not optional. The cost of negligence is far greater than the investment in prevention,” the minister said.

  • PENGASSAN foundation picks medical bills of 13 patients in UniAbuja teaching hospital Gwagwalada

    PENGASSAN foundation picks medical bills of 13 patients in UniAbuja teaching hospital Gwagwalada

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Foundation has paid the medical bills of 13 patients at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    The Chairman of the foundation, Comrade David Owan disclosed this in an interview after visiting patients in some wards of the hospital.

    David who was accompanied by the Secretary of the Foundation and Chairperson of PENGASAN Women Commission (PWAC), Engr. Ada Mbanaso and other members visited the Paediatrics Ward, Male orthopaedic ward, Gynaecology, and female surgical ward to empathise with patients receiving treatment at the hospital.

    Owan said the foundation was on a mission to empathize with the patients and to assist indigent ones with payment of their hospital bills.

    Last week, it visited the General hospitals in Karshi and Bwari as well as Nyanya.

    Read Also: PENGASSAN Foundation donates relief items to victims of Yelewata attack in Benue

    Owan said the foundation earmarked N15 million in payment of hospital bills for poor patients in the affected hospitals.

    He said: “Mostly, we try to touch lives of those who cannot their treatment so that, you know, the women, children, some of them don’t have, literally, the children. So we try to get to those people that this thing can actually reach out to them. We equally visited the male ward to extend our assistance.”

    Acting Chief Medical Director of the Teaching Hospital, Prof. Bob Ukonu said the hospital has a daily influx of over 650 patients coming to receive treatment.

    He said the Teaching Hospital serves as both secondary and tertiary health institution covering the growing health needs of residents of FCT and neighbouring states.

    Ukonu spoke of the challenges facing the hospital which includes shortage of hospital personnel to attend to growing number of patients trooping to the facility for medical care .

    On the average, he said that Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital receives, “close to 500 Out-patients and over 150 others on admission daily.”

    He added: “This number differs because there are those who are coming as an outpatient, averagely, on a daily basis, you see close to 500 outpatients and over 150 patients on admission daily.

    “The hospital’s manpower has been stretched, and that is why you can see people crying out to government, please we need more recruitment. We need more waivers. You know, with the Japa syndrome, a whole lot has left. Government has been doing a lot in terms of replacing them but more needed to be done.”

  • PENGASSAN Foundation donates relief items to victims of Yelewata attack in Benue

    PENGASSAN Foundation donates relief items to victims of Yelewata attack in Benue

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Foundation has donated relief materials to victims of the Yelewata attack in Guma Local Government Area, Benue State.

    Some of the items donated by the foundation included: mattresses; tubers of yam; bags of rice; bags of beans; bars of soap; cartons of tomato pastes; cartons of noodles; gallons of groundnut oil; pampers; sanitary pads; cartons of milo; mats; pillows; mosquito nets among others.

    The Chairman of the foundation, Comrade David Owan, said the visit to the community was part of an effort by the organisation to show solidarity to victims of the attack.

    It would be recalled that gunmen killed around 200 villagers in Yelewata on the night of Friday, June 13, 2025.

    The attack drew wild outcry, culminating in a visit to the state by President Bola Tinubu.

    Owan, who was taken on a tour of the affected areas of the attack, added that what he saw on ground showed that the people are suffering as a result of the attack.

    He said: “We have to do something to bring succour to the people of Yelewata community. We wanted to see what had happened after the attack. The attack is quite touching for us at PENGASSAN foundation.

    “We have brought succour to the community. You can see the items here. We are not here to solve their problems but to provide support to make the people of Yelewata feel better.”

    Coordinator of the temporary Internally Displaced Camp set up at the community, Ukuma Jonathan commended PENGASSAN foundation members for the visit and relief materials.

    He said: “As you can see, these are the remnants of the attack and it has made it uninhabitable for our people. We pray that a situation like this never happens again.

    Read Also: PENGASSAN Foundation spends N12m on medical bills of patients in FCT

    “It is a very dehumanising situation. Our people sleep under trees and fear further attacks. We are calling for the provision of security for our people.”

    Also speaking, Village Head of Yelewata community, Julius Joor commended PENGASSAN foundation for the relief items, assuring that they will be fairly distributed among members of the community.

    He, however, said that members of the community are still scared of returning to their farms as suspected Fulani herdsmen are still grazing on their lands.

  • PENGASSAN Foundation spends N12m on medical bills of patients in FCT

    PENGASSAN Foundation spends N12m on medical bills of patients in FCT

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), through its Foundation, has spent N12 million to pay medical bills for indigent patients in four general hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    These hospitals include Karshi; Bwari; Gwagwalada, and Gwarimpa General Hospitals.

    The Foundation disbursed N3 million each to Karshi and Bwari General Hospitals to settle medical expenses for less privileged patients.

    It earmarked N6 million for medical bills of patients in Gwagwalada and Gwarimpa General Hospitals.

    At Karshi General Hospital, the Foundation conducted an on-the-spot assessment of patients who could not afford their medical bills and paid them to enable proper treatment and discharge.

    The Medical Director, Karshi General Hospital, Dr. Sanni Wilfred, said that over 60 per cent of the hospital’s patients are vulnerable women and children with limited means to pay for healthcare.

    He also mentioned cases with very high medical costs, such as a child needing cardiac surgery valued at N10 million.

    Wilfred said: “Taking care of patients in this period of time is actually challenging but the hospital as a management, we have done our best. Right from when the patient arrives, we give treatment to those that need an emergency for twenty four hours without even asking for money.

    “It will even interest you that some of our parents when they come, they don’t even have money to pay, when we treat them for a few days and they cannot pay, on our own we discharge them. And of course, we also receive substantial support from the hospital management but you know that the support can never be enough. I hope that this kind of collaboration will be sustained.”

    Dr. Wilfred, who took members of the PENGASSAN Foundation round the wards and different sections, further stated: “Most of our patients here are low profile patients, we deal with rural women and children etc. 60 percent of the patients are vulnerable women and children, especially pregnant women. We are encouraged by seeing you here and we encourage other NGOs and Foundation to emulate your gesture.”

    At Bwari General Hospital, the foundation also settled medical bills of some of the patients after assessing the indigent patients there.

    President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Fesus Osifo, who was represented by the Foundation Chairman, Comrade David Owan, explained that the Foundation established by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the association, focuses on hospitals serving the underprivileged, not those catering to wealthier individuals, aiming to make a tangible impact on lives most in need.

    According to Owan, this is a significant contribution to addressing the healthcare financial burden faced by vulnerable populations in Abuja’s general hospitals, where patients often struggle with paying for necessary treatments.

    Owan, who doubles as national treasurer and flanked by the Chairperson, PENGASSAN Women Commission, Maryann Ada Mbanaso, among other members of the Foundation, said: “We are representing PENGASSAN Foundation, this is the pioneering Foundation established by the NEC of PENGASSAN and we are charged with the responsibility of providing succour to the indigent people and providing welfare for the other people in the society.

    “The essence of PENGASSAN is to provide welfare for our members but we discovered that it cannot just be welfare for our members alone, we have to extend it to the larger society.

    Read Also: PENGASSAN, NCDMB close rank on local content monitoring

    “We came to do on the spot assessment, to see the real people that have issues and cannot afford medical bills and see how we can assist them settle the medical bills so that they can have proper treatment and be discharged.

    “We come with a budget of about three million naira to do this and after that we have other hospitals we will visit. We don’t select any big man hospital, we need to touch the lives of those that really need the help.”

    PENGASSAN Foundation was established by the association’s National Executive Council, NEC, to assist indigent individuals with their medical bills and to extend welfare beyond the association’s members to the larger community.

    The staff of both hospitals visited expressed gratitude and encouraged other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to emulate Foundation’s humanitarian gesture.

  • PENGASSAN, NUPENG suspend picketing of FUPRE

    PENGASSAN, NUPENG suspend picketing of FUPRE

    Members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Warri Zone, have suspended their picketing of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun, following successful negotiations with the institution’s management.

    The resolution was confirmed by the PENGASSAN Chairman at FUPRE, Mr. Francis Falodun, after a high-level meeting between union leaders and the university authorities.

    Falodun said the unions agreed to call off the protest in the interest of students and to avoid further disruption of academic activities. He revealed that the university management has pledged to pay the outstanding Earned Allowances owed to union members within one week.

    “As part of the agreement, management also gave assurances that no union member would be victimised for participating in the protest,” Falodun stated.

    He added that talks are ongoing regarding the formal recognition of the unions by the university but expressed confidence that a cordial and constructive relationship would be maintained moving forward.

    READ ALSO: FG applauds Owolabi Salis as first Nigerian to travel to space and return

    “I want to sincerely appreciate our members for their steadfastness and commitment to the cause. Their resilience has brought us this far,” he said.

    It will be recalled that the unions had stormed the university’s main gate early Wednesday with petroleum tankers, effectively shutting down access to the campus in response to an internal memo from Vice Chancellor Professor Ezekiel Agbalagba. In the memo, the VC had warned staff against participating in the planned protest, threatening “severe consequences” for defaulters.