The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has attributed the collapse of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries to political interference and policy inconsistencies, rather than a lack of skilled manpower.

Speaking on Friday at the 4th PENGASSAN and Labour Summit (PEALS 2025) in Abuja, the association’s President, Festus Osifo, said refinery workers had the expertise to sustain operations but were repeatedly denied the resources and enabling environment needed to succeed.

“The refineries are not failing because Nigerians lack the skills. They are failing because of political interference, widespread corruption, and mismanagement,” Osifo said.

He explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigerian energy workers successfully managed offshore platforms after expatriates left the country, proving that the industry had competent local talent capable of delivering at global standards.

According to Osifo, the bigger challenge lies in policy instability, which has weakened investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. “Policy inconsistencies and political interference undermine investor confidence and cripple the nation’s oil and gas sector. Constantly changing policies will only chase away investors and delay sectoral growth,” he warned.

Osifo emphasised that predictable fiscal regimes and reforms were essential to attract investment and build long-term infrastructure. “We must have an industry that investors can predict in five or ten years. Constantly changing policies will only chase away investors,” he said.

He also called on indigenous and international operators to prioritise worker training and capacity building, stressing that such efforts would ensure Nigerian professionals remain globally competitive and ready for future shifts in the energy sector.

Delivering a goodwill message at the summit, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nuhu Toro, praised PENGASSAN for creating a platform for dialogue at a time of critical challenges in the industry. “This summit is a testament to the foresight and strategic thinking required to navigate industry dynamics and their implications for organised labour,” Toro said.

Toro urged other unions under the TUC to adopt similar initiatives, noting that innovation and constructive engagement remained vital to advancing workers’ welfare and strengthening collective bargaining.
The three-day summit, which opened in Abuja on Thursday, is themed “Building a Resilient Oil and Gas Sector in Nigeria: Advancing HSE, ESG, Investment and Incremental Production.”