Nigeria risks a significant exodus of skilled professionals in the oil and gas sector due to poor remuneration and mounting economic pressures, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has warned. The union raised the concern on Thursday in Abuja during a briefing after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, stressing that many experts may leave the country if urgent action is not taken.
Speaking to journalists, the PENGASSAN President, Mr. Festus Osifo, said the sector is grappling with the impact of the Naira’s devaluation and rising inflation, which have widened the wage gap between Nigeria and other countries. He noted that oil and gas expertise is globally competitive and easily transferable, making the risk of brain drain even greater.
“A drilling engineer in Nigeria does the same job as one in the U.S. or Abu Dhabi,” Mr. Osifo said.
He warned that without urgent measures to improve wages, the industry could experience a level of brain drain more severe than what has been recorded in other sectors. “If we do not act, the brain drain seen in other sectors will be child’s play,” he said.
Mr. Osifo added that PENGASSAN had made progress through collective bargaining across several branches in the industry. “We signed numerous agreements across government agencies, international oil companies, service companies, and the marketing sector,” he said, noting that the agreements provided some relief for members facing the rising cost of living.
He emphasised that the union’s priority is to protect jobs and improve members’ welfare. He also urged companies delaying salary reviews on account of the economic climate to take prompt action. According to him, the industry employs some of the nation’s brightest minds and must offer competitive compensation to retain them.
“This industry recruits the best. Companies must provide the best conditions,” he said.
On insecurity, the PENGASSAN President urged the government to take stronger action against terrorism and kidnapping. “We are tired of condemnations. The government must expose sponsors and protect citizens,” he said.
He appealed to federal and state governments to adequately fund and equip security agencies to address emerging threats. Mr. Osifo also reaffirmed support for calls for state police, arguing that decentralising policing would enhance local security responses.
He further noted that economic progress is meaningless when food prices remain high and farmers cannot access their farms due to insecurity. “Nigerians want to see food on the table, not macroeconomic figures,” he said.
Mr. Osifo urged the government to align fiscal and monetary policies so that improvements in the economy translate into real benefits for households. “Translate macro results to food on the table,” he said.
