The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has intensified calls for the Federal Government to publicly identify and bring to justice the financial backers of terrorist activities, as insecurity continues to undermine the nation's progress and endanger lives.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo issued a stern warning following the union's National Executive Council meeting.
He emphasized that mere personnel changes, such as the recent appointment of a new Minister of Defence, are insufficient to tackle the escalating crisis.
"Beyond changing personnel, beyond bringing in one personnel to replace the other... the government, both at the federal, state, and local levels, should do everything possible to curb this mess," Osifo declared.
The union's statement aligns with a similar push from the National Assembly, where both chambers urged the exposure and prosecution of terrorism sponsors just a day earlier.
A bill sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele proposes reclassifying kidnapping and hostage-taking as acts of terrorism, empowering security forces to dismantle criminal networks more effectively.
Osifo expressed frustration over repeated government claims of knowing the identities of these sponsors, yet seeing no action. "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 lockup, and gotten them convicted to serve as deterrents to others?" he questioned.
He called for an end to ritualistic condemnations and one-minute silences for victims, advocating instead for reallocating non-essential funds to procure advanced equipment for counter-terrorism efforts.
The remarks come amid a sharp rise in incidents, including kidnappings that have paralyzed communities and deterred agricultural activities, exacerbating food price surges despite easing inflation.
PENGASSAN urged authorities to implement macroeconomic policies that deliver real relief, such as stabilizing food costs and securing farmlands for farmers.On the labour front, the union highlighted unresolved disputes with Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd., stemming from an industrial action two months prior.
"Since our last National Industrial Action, we have been engaging them in many conversations. But the issues are not fully resolved," Osifo noted.
He also pressed oil and gas companies to adjust wages in response to the naira's devaluation, citing the high international demand for Nigerian expertise in the sector.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com