Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has ushered in a new era of leadership with the election of Comrade Bosun Olabiyi-Agoro as its National President, marking a significant transition for one of the country's most influential labour unions in the oil and gas sector. Olabiyi-Agoro was elected at the association's first Quadrennial National Delegates Conference, which was held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja on Saturday, August 22, 2026. He takes over from Comrade Festus Osifo, who successfully led the association for a six-year tenure from 2020 to 2026, and who now continues as the President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria. The election, which saw Olabiyi-Agoro emerge unopposed, also produced a full slate of national executive officers who will steer the affairs of the union for the next four years.
The new PENGASSAN president brings to the leadership a formidable combination of technical expertise, trade union experience, and a track record of strategic leadership. He is a petroleum engineer and labour leader with over 20 years of experience in Nigeria's oil and gas industry. Currently an employee of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), his career also includes significant technical and operational roles with leading industry players such as Baker Hughes and EA Temile and Sons. His academic credentials are equally distinguished, boasting a Master's degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Aberdeen, a Postgraduate Certificate in Computing from London Metropolitan University, and a Bachelor of Technology degree in Chemical Engineering from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
Olabiyi-Agoro is no stranger to the inner workings of organised labour and has held several key positions within PENGASSAN. His previous roles within the association include National Financial Secretary from 2022 to 2023, National Auditor from 2020 to 2022, and Chairman of the Baker Hughes PENGASSAN Branch from 2016 to 2020. He also currently serves as the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Oyo State Council. In his acceptance speech, the newly elected president paid a glowing tribute to his predecessor, Festus Osifo, describing him as a "leader, builder and fighter" and commending his efforts in defending jobs during divestments and strengthening the association's voice at the highest levels of government.
However, while honouring the legacy of the past, Olabiyi-Agoro immediately set a distinctly aggressive and combative tone for his own administration, declaring a "war" on what he described as the growing menace of contract staffing abuse and casualisation that has plagued the oil and gas industry. In his first major policy pronouncement as president, he drew a firm line in the sand, warning employers against keeping workers in a perpetual state of "temporary" employment. "We are not averse to contract staffing but it must be practised the way it is done everywhere in the world," he declared. He challenged the logic of indefinite contract employment, stating unequivocally that "a job that someone has been doing for over two years, five years, 10 years, even 20 years or more cannot be categorised as a temporary position anymore".
The new president described the practice of using contract staffing to "molest workers, cause marginalisation and save cost" as a cancer that must be excised. He warned that the issue is not just an industrial relations matter but is evolving into a health and safety concern that his administration will interrogate with every resource available. This declaration has sent a clear signal to employers in the sector that the era of exploiting workers through prolonged contract staffing is over, and that the union will deploy every legitimate resource at its disposal to protect the rights and welfare of its members.
Beyond his crusade against contract staffing, Olabiyi-Agoro unveiled a comprehensive five-point agenda to guide his tenure. The cardinal points of his vision include aggressive protection of jobs and membership drive; the vigorous defence of Collective Bargaining Agreements and strengthening of industrial relations; a focus on training, women empowerment, and staff welfare; building a stronger, more united PENGASSAN; and promoting the image of the association. On job security, he made a solemn promise that no PENGASSAN member would be left behind, particularly in the face of industry divestments, restructuring, automation, and the complexities of the energy transition. He pledged to negotiate just-transition agreements, retraining, and redeployment for workers affected by these shifts, while insisting that safety, welfare, and dignity remain non-negotiable.
He also signalled a strategic approach to industrial relations, stating that while he would treat management as partners where fairness prevails, he would not hesitate to resist injustice "peacefully, lawfully, and powerfully". "Agreements signed must be agreements kept," he declared, emphasising the need for integrity in industrial relations. His administration also plans to invest in digital skills, leadership development, and mentorship, while ensuring greater participation of women and young professionals in decision-making within the association. He also welcomed the increasing recruitment activities by companies in the oil and gas sector, viewing the trend as positive for industry expansion.
The election of Olabiyi-Agoro marks a pivotal moment for PENGASSAN as it navigates a complex landscape of industry transformation, economic pressures, and evolving labour dynamics. His blend of technical knowledge and labour activism is expected to bring a new vigour to the union's negotiations. As he takes the mantle of leadership, the message from the new president is clear: the union is under new management, and it is prepared to fight fiercely for the dignity and rights of its members, starting with an uncompromising stand against the exploitation of workers through casualisation. The oil and gas industry, and indeed the nation, will be watching closely to see how this new chapter unfolds.
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