The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) is strategically repositioning its focus to prepare members for emerging jobs as technology, energy transition and changing investment patterns reshape Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

The General Secretary of PENGASSAN, Jerry Amah, said this at the association’s labour summit held recently in Abuja.

Amah stressed that the union must anticipate workplace changes rather than merely react to developments.

He said the rapid transformation of the energy industry required PENGASSAN to remain forward-looking while equipping workers with the knowledge and skills needed to remain relevant in an evolving sector.

“The energy transition is changing the global landscape. Technology is changing the workplace. Investment patterns are changing. The expectations of workers are changing,” he said.

He added that Nigeria was also confronting economic realities that demanded greater efficiency, accountability and creativity from stakeholders in the energy industry.

According to him, PENGASSAN must understand the economics of the sectors in which its members operate, anticipate technological changes and prepare workers for emerging opportunities.

“We must be a strong voice for workers, but also a credible partner in building a stronger energy industry. We must understand the economics of the sectors in which our members operate. We must anticipate technological changes rather than merely react to them. We must prepare our members for the jobs of tomorrow,” Amah said.

He further insisted that workers must remain central to discussions on the future of Nigeria’s energy industry, arguing that no conversation about the sector would be complete without the Nigerian worker at the table.

Amah also called for a new approach to industrial relations, saying sustainable industrial peace should be built on dialogue, mutual respect and fair resolution of grievances rather than confrontation.

“We seek industrial relations founded on dialogue rather than confrontation; on mutual respect rather than suspicion,” he said.

The General Secretary said the prosperity of Nigerian workers was inseparable from the health of the industries in which they work and the country’s broader prosperity.

He reaffirmed PENGASSAN’s commitment to constructive engagement with government, employers and other stakeholders while defending the legitimate interests and welfare of its members.

He added that PENGASSAN would continue to promote a productive, competitive and investment-friendly energy sector while ensuring that workers remained protected and included in decisions shaping the industry.