PENGASSAN Canvasses Equal Distribution Of Oil Wealth

The Petroleum Natural Gas Senior Staff  Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called on the federal government to ensure that the on-going reform in the oil and gas sector takes into cognisance equitable distribution of wealth among all stakeholders in the country.

Chairman of the Port Harcourt zone of PENGASSAN, Comrade Telema Smart-Jack, who made the call in an interview with The Tide said the reforms would be incomplete without discussion on the distribution of wealth accruable from the oil and gas sector.

While identifying some of the reasons proffered by government for embarking on the reforms in the industry, Comrade Smart-Jack noted that the real challenge faced by reforms are the optimisation of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon potentials, unacknowledged wastage of human resources and the nation’s entrepreneurial endowment to achieve lasting functional legacy.

He continued  that the issues also include job security and decent work life for members of PENGASSAN, natural content development (NCD) targets , post amnesty programme and power generation.

The PENGASSAN boss continued that the oil and gas reforms will not be complete without stating the terminal dates for gas flaring, safety and security of oil workers, casualisation and contract staffing.

According to the state PENGASSAN boss, some of the reasons given by government for embarking on the Oil and Gas reforms include: addressing inadequate legal and government structures that cannot later for the needs of modern Oil and Gas industry including the NNPC Act of 1977.

It also include disperse policy Statement Amendments and regulations as well as ill-equipped ministry of Petroleum Resources.

Sogbeba Dokubo