The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has added its voice to growing concerns over insecurity in the country, urging the Federal Government to name and prosecute sponsors of terrorism and take immediate steps to halt the rising wave of kidnappings.

The union warned that the escalating insecurity poses a serious threat to national development and the safety of citizens.

PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, made the call on Thursday at a press conference following the union’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

Recall that the National Assembly on Wednesday called for the public naming and prosecution of terrorism financiers in Nigeria as the Federal Government explores measures to address the growing insecurity across the country.

Both the Senate and House of Representatives pushed for the exposure of terrorism financiers during their plenary sessions as a way of addressing the security crisis facing the country.

The proposal, sponsored by the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, seeks to classify kidnapping, hostage-taking and related crimes as terrorism, giving security agencies wider powers to track, disrupt and prosecute criminal networks across the country.

He stressed that the death penalty would apply not only to kidnappers but also to “their informants, logistics providers, harbourers, transporters, and anyone who knowingly assists, facilitates, or supports kidnapping operations,” adding that “attempt, conspiracy or incitement to kidnap attracts the same penalty.”

“Nigerians are kidnapped on highways, in schools, in homes, on farms and in markets,” he said. “This is not a mere crime. It is terrorism in its purest form,” the Senate Leader said.

Weighing in on the matter with their perspective, the labour union said insecurity continues to plague the nation, warning that the situation has worsened in recent weeks.

Osifo said that while the recent appointment of a new Minister of Defence was a welcome development, personnel changes alone would not solve Nigeria’s security crisis. “Beyond changing personnel, the government, at all levels, must act decisively to stop this mess,” he said.

He questioned why, despite claims that authorities know the sponsors of terrorist groups, they had not been publicly named or brought to justice.

He said, “Gentlemen of the press, during the NEC session, we discussed issues that are plaguing our country today, bordering on the state of insecurity in Nigeria. We have all seen how insecurity has been plaguing our land, how this particular challenge has worsened in the last few weeks.

“Yes, we just received that a new Minister of Defence will be sworn in in the next few hours or thereabouts. But beyond changing personnel, beyond bringing in one personnel to replace the other, which we value so much, because we strongly believe in human capital, the government, both at the federal, state and local levels, should do everything possible to curb this mess.

“We have heard several times when they tell us that they know the sponsors of these terrorists; the question is, where are the sponsors? Why haven’t you named the sponsors? Why haven’t you exposed the sponsors? Why haven’t you gone after them, taken them to the lock-up and got them convicted to serve as deterrents to others? We are tired of always having one minute’s silence for our brothers and our sisters.

“We are tired of always coming up to keep condemning and condemning. Beyond condemnation, beyond rhetoric, the government, even if it takes us to look at those sectors that are not critical, can go to the National Assembly and divert the funds that are there for the sectors that are not critical, divert them and use them to buy sophisticated equipment to go after these terrorists. Because it is a country that is safe.

“It is a country that can protect its citizens that will be talking about the construction of roads, that will be talking about investment in any other sector, and enforcing security. Today, state police has become a child that was born today.

“They know what state police is. We are demanding and shouting that one of the ways to treat any federation in the world and protect its citizens is by decentralising our police system. But today, the politicians are still engaged in rhetoric.”

Highlighting the impact on education, Osifo noted that some schools in the northern region had been forced to close, leaving children unable to write exams.

He also stressed that decentralising policing through state police could strengthen citizen protection, warning against political obstruction that prioritises less than 0.1 per cent of the population over the security of the majority.

“It is not about rhetoric. Then, when we need a partnership with the international community, the government should do everything possible to partner with the international community. Because we strongly believe that there is no country in the world that will come to solve our problem.

“Our problem will be solved by us. Yes, we can ask for assistance. Yes, we can ask for a partnership. But we are the ones who will take the lead. That is the sad reality. So we must brace up. We must be strong. So, the government must act decisively. These kidnappings must stop.

“Today, we have heard that some of the schools in the northern part of Nigeria are closed down. I wonder what is going to happen to the children. A child who ought to be writing exams by now is locked in the house because they could not go to school as a result of terrorism.

“The function of government is very clear: to protect the lives and properties of the citizens. The time for rhetoric is over; the government must act decisively. And the time to act is now,” he added.

The union also decried Nigeria’s economic hardships, pointing to soaring prices in the markets despite reported reductions in inflation.

Osifo urged the government to ensure macroeconomic policies translate into tangible relief for Nigerians, particularly in controlling food prices and enabling farmers to return to their fields.

He explained, “We strongly believe that the government should try to do everything possible to ensure a meeting point between monetary and fiscal policy. To do everything possible to ensure that all the macroeconomic policies that they read out daily translate to lower food prices.

“On the table of Nigerians, it is not sufficient for you to tell us that the exchange rate is coming down.

“It is not sufficient to say that inflation is coming down. It is not sufficient to say that we are having a paucity in our balance of payments. It is not sufficient to say that we have met our revenue target for the year.

“All these are macroeconomics. What the average Nigerian wants to see is how all this translates to food on the table. So, in any policy that the government is bringing to bear, they must be able to trace from the macro level to the micro level because that is what affects the everyday Nigerian.”

On labour matters, PENGASSAN noted that its ongoing industrial issue with Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd, which culminated in an industrial action two months ago, remains unresolved.

Giving an update, he said, “We also looked at the issues that are plaguing our branches. And you know that recently, we had some challenges in Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. And within this period, since our last national industrial action, we have been engaging them in a lot of conversations.

“But the issues are not fully resolved. There are still a lot of pending issues. Yes, the NEC decided that we should still consummate that process by pushing those issues, by engaging in dialogue to resolve the issues, and by also engaging all our social partners and stakeholders to get the issues resolved.

“And we hope and pray that these issues should be resolved at the table, so that we will not go back to Egypt. But as PENGASSAN, you know, we don’t shy away from doing what is right. But our preference is to get the subject resolved over the negotiation table.”

He also stressed the need for firms across the oil and gas sector to review wages in the wake of Naira devaluation, noting the global demand for Nigerian oil and gas skills.

“A drilling engineer in Nigeria is doing the same job as one in the United States or Abu Dhabi. Companies must provide competitive conditions to retain the best talent,” he said, highlighting the risk of brain drain if remuneration gaps persist.

The occasion also celebrated the end of tenure of Union General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, who retired upon reaching 60.

In a parting interview, he emphasised the enduring role of unions in advocating for workers’ welfare.

“Labour should use its brain and strength to confront capital. Capital will always try to maximise profit, but through capacity building, data and advocacy, workers can achieve better conditions,” he said. (The PUNCH)

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