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

Some members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have accused Festus Osifo, the group’s national president, of “undemocratic conduct and constitutional violations”.

In a petition addressed to the registrar of trade unions, ministry of labour and productivity seen by TheCable, the members also raised concerns about the conduct of Lumumba Okugbawa, the general secretary of PENGASSAN.

The “concerned members” identify with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) branch of PENGASSAN.

They complained about the unresolved and persistent issues concerning the duo’s “conduct and violations”.

The branch members urged the federal government to intervene in the concerns raised about the leadership of PENGASSAN.

“As a branch under the PENGASSAN structure, we have made several efforts to engage the national leadership constructively on matters affecting our members and the proper administration of our branch in line with the constitution of our union,” the petition reads.

The group said despite its efforts, “numerous letters and correspondences” have been met with utter disregard and non-responsiveness.

“The continuous actions and inactions of the national leadership amount to an abuse of office and a gross violation of the provisions of the PENGASSAN constitution, especially as it pertains to the rights of branches, democratic engagement, and internal dispute resolution,” the petition further reads.

“We are compelled to escalate this matter to your esteemed office, being the regulatory authority overseeing trade union administration in Nigeria, to intervene appropriately and safeguard the integrity of trade unionism, internal democracy, and due process within PENGASSAN.”

The group, comprising over 523 members (more than two-thirds majority) of the NMDPRA branch, had accused the PENGASSAN leaders of interfering in the electoral process of the NMDPRA chapter.

According to documents seen by TheCable, the group had rejected the appointment of caretaker committee (CTC) by the national leadership for the chapter, which it said was without a proper election.

They said the association’s leadership reached out to the NMDPRA branch, via a letter dated June 27, that it had constituted a “Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the Branch”.

However, the NMDPRA branch kicked against the move, describing it as “entirely wrong”, “unacceptable”, and “unconstitutional”.

The branch members said due to the “non-responsiveness” by the CWC, they unanimously resolved “to conduct an election as passed by the branch members”.

The NMDPRA branch members said the matter was subsequently escalated to the minister of labour and employment, after they received no positive response to their repeated requests to conduct the election, as well as CWC’s compliance.

“The Honorable Minister, in his unprecedented wisdom and out of respect for the struggles of Branch members, inclusive of our clients, unlike the CWC, responded to the request via a letter of the 15th of August, 2025, imploring the Branch Members to maintain calm, and pause the conduct of the proposed election while it engage all parties concerned to see to the amicable settlement of the issues so raised in the interest of all,” they said in a letter addressed to PENGASSAN’s national executive committee (NEC) through their lawyers.

But the branch members said the CWC “almost immediately, inaugurated the CTC” — an action the group referred to as “continued non-compliance and unconstitutional acts”.