The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has warned that efforts to tackle insecurity in the country will remain ineffective unless governments urgently address rising poverty and improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
The association also called for the strengthening of local governments so they can respond more effectively to the needs of people at the grassroots.
PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo made the remarks during a social event organised to honour former leaders of the union for their contributions to its development since its establishment in 1978.
The gathering was attended by former presidents, deputy presidents, general secretaries, zonal chairmen, zonal secretaries and other national officers of the association.
Osifo said the current economic hardship affects not only organised labour but also workers who earn relatively decent salaries, as many are increasingly burdened by the responsibility of supporting unemployed relatives, neighbours and other members of their communities.
According to him, a worker may earn a good income, but that income can quickly be depleted by the need to assist other people who are struggling financially.
He stressed that while PENGASSAN’s primary responsibility is to protect the jobs, wages and welfare of its members, the association cannot ignore the broader economic challenges facing Nigerians.
Osifo said governments at the federal, state and local levels must become more responsive to the plight of citizens and recognise that reducing poverty is a collective responsibility.
He expressed concern about the condition of local government administration, describing it as the tier of government closest to the people and one that should provide citizens with a platform to demand accountability on basic community issues.
However, he lamented that many local governments have become largely ineffective, leaving citizens without a functional grassroots mechanism for seeking solutions to problems affecting their communities.
According to him, this weakness has contributed to the growing level of poverty and requires a fundamental review of governance at the grassroots.
The PENGASSAN president further warned that insecurity would remain difficult to reduce significantly as long as widespread poverty persists.
He urged governments across the country to work together, show political will and implement practical measures capable of reducing poverty and improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Speaking on the purpose of the dinner, Osifo said the event was organised to ensure that the sacrifices and contributions of former leaders of the association are not forgotten.
He noted that many of the former officials still support the union by offering advice to the current leadership whenever they identify areas that need attention or improvement.
Osifo said the awards presented at the event were meant to appreciate the sacrifices of the former leaders and their role in building the foundation on which subsequent administrations of PENGASSAN have continued to build.
