EXCLUSIVE: Crisis hits PENGASSAN as members accuse Festus Osifo of ‘undemocratic conduct’

Crisis Unfolds in PENGASSAN: Accusations of Undemocratic Conduct Against Festus Osifo

A major internal crisis has erupted within the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), as members of its Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) branch have formally accused the national president, Festus Osifo, and general secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, of undemocratic conduct and constitutional violations.

The allegations, detailed in a petition submitted to the Registrar of Trade Unions under the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, center on claims of abuse of office, suppression of internal democracy, and disregard for union procedures.

The concerned members, numbering over 523, representing more than two-thirds of the NMDPRA branch, assert that the national leadership imposed a caretaker committee (CTC) on their chapter without conducting proper elections. According to documents cited in the petition, the national body sent a letter dated June 27 informing the branch of the CTC’s formation, a move the members described as “entirely wrong,” “unacceptable,” and “unconstitutional.” They argue that this action violates the PENGASSAN constitution, particularly provisions that guarantee branches the right to democratic engagement and internal dispute resolution.

Despite multiple attempts to engage the national leadership constructively, the branch claims their letters and correspondences were met with silence. Frustrated by the lack of response from the Central Working Committee (CWC), the members resolved to conduct their own elections. However, before proceeding, they escalated the matter to the Minister of Labour and Employment, who responded in a letter dated August 15, urging both parties to remain calm and suspend any planned elections while efforts were made to resolve the crisis amicably.

The situation intensified when, according to the petitioners, the CWC defied the minister’s directive and swiftly inaugurated the caretaker committee. This act, they argue, further undermines democratic principles and due process within the union.

In a letter addressed to PENGASSAN’s National Executive Committee (NEC) through their legal representatives, the NMDPRA branch members reiterated their stance, describing the leadership’s actions as continued non-compliance and unconstitutional.

The crisis has sparked calls for federal intervention to safeguard the integrity of trade unionism in Nigeria. The petitioners emphasize that transparency, internal democracy, and adherence to constitutional provisions must remain central to PENGASSAN’s operations.

As the dispute unfolds, it raises broader questions about governance and accountability within one of Nigeria’s most influential labor unions.