PENGASSAN Gets 3x Pay Raise for Oil, Gas Workers

Abuja, Nigeria — The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has achieved a major milestone, negotiating wage increases of up to 300 percent for workers in the oil and gas industry.

This development was announced by Comrade Festus Osifo, PENGASSAN President, during his address at the 2025 PENGASSAN Women Annual Convention (PWAC) held in Abuja. Osifo stated that the union’s successful negotiations were driven by the urgent need to protect workers from the adverse effects of inflation, currency devaluation, and worsening economic conditions.

“Since inflation began to rise sharply, we’ve been carrying out Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations across the sector. Some companies have implemented nearly 300% salary increases, with many others offering over 200%,” Osifo noted.

He added that these victories have been consistent across different branches and companies within the industry. “We’re not talking about minimum wage. We’re talking about confronting the impact of naira devaluation head-on and securing fair compensation,” he said.

Osifo contrasted PENGASSAN’s wage achievements with the broader national situation, where many public and private sector workers continue to face stagnant wages amid surging living costs.

Commenting on the Tinubu administration’s two-year economic performance, he offered a mixed review, acknowledging progress in certain areas while lamenting widespread hardship. “Macroeconomic policies may seem promising on paper, but the reality for Nigerian households in terms of food, education, and healthcare access remains dire,” he stated.

Also speaking at the event, Comrade Maryann Ada Mbanaso, National Chairperson of the PENGASSAN Women Commission, reiterated the commission’s commitment to empowering women in the energy sector.

“The future is women. If doors are closed to us, we will open them ourselves,” Mbanaso declared, emphasizing the 2025 theme: “She Powers the Future: Driving Industry Transformation, Leadership and Technology.”

She called on women across the sector to embrace leadership roles and reshape both industry practices and public policy.

By Makinde oyinkansola| June 3, 2025