Group Faults Association’s Silence On Workers’ Treatment At Oil Firm

A civil society organisation, the Movement of Intellectuals for National Development (MIND), has criticised the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) over what it described as the union’s silence and reluctance to act on alleged mistreatment of Nigerian workers at an international oil company (IOC), TotalEnergies Nigeria.

In a statement signed by its western coordinator, Ebi Warekromo, MIND expressed disappointment at alleged attempts by PENGASSAN to distance itself from a petition the group submitted to the Nigerian Senate detailing alleged labour abuses and breaches of industry regulations.

Warekromo said the petition was based on documented evidence and testimonies from affected employees, insisting that the issues raised were neither speculative nor politically motivated.

According to him, PENGASSAN’s local branch had previously voiced concerns over what he termed “unwarranted labour practices” and an “oppressive management style,” particularly in relation to the handling of expatriate staff positions within the company.

MIND alleged that some expatriate roles had been extended beyond approved limits, in violation of provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD Act). The group argued that such actions not only undermine local content development but also expose systemic weaknesses in regulatory compliance within the oil and gas sector.

The organisation further alleged that security breaches and other compliance failures had occurred as a result of the purported irregularities.

Warekromo maintained that describing the concerns as internal union matters was misleading and counterproductive, stressing that issues affecting workers’ welfare and rights should not be shielded under confidentiality.

“When issues continue to adversely affect workers, they should not be confined to internal discussions,” he said, adding that union engagement must produce measurable outcomes or be subjected to broader scrutiny.

MIND also questioned what it described as PENGASSAN’s reluctance to engage openly with the grievances, saying such posture raises concerns about the union’s commitment to defending the rights and interests of its members.

The group called for an immediate public inquiry and urged the Senate to convene a transparent hearing involving PENGASSAN, TotalEnergies Nigeria and other relevant stakeholders.

In the statement, MIND clarified that its intervention was not an attack on the union as an institution but a response to what it termed a vacuum in effective representation.

“Where unions fail or refuse to act decisively, civil society has both the right and the duty to step in,” the statement read.

The group further challenged the leadership of PENGASSAN to make itself available for a public hearing before the Senate, arguing that openness would dispel any perception of institutional complicity.

“If PENGASSAN truly has nothing to hide, nothing to fear, and nothing to explain, it should welcome rather than resist public scrutiny,” the statement added.

MIND warned that any attempt to intimidate whistleblowers or investigate alleged breaches of confidentiality would only deepen public concern.

It reaffirmed its commitment to what it described as justice, fairness and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive sector, urging the union to “realign itself with the workers whose dues, trust and mandate give it legitimacy.”