The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has warned that Nigeria’s fight against insecurity will remain difficult unless governments at all levels take urgent steps to reduce poverty and improve the living conditions of citizens. The association also called for the repositioning of local governments to make them more effective and responsive to the needs of people at the grassroots.

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PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, made the call during a social gathering organised to honour former leaders of the association for their contributions since its establishment in 1978. He said the current economic hardship extends beyond organised labour, noting that many workers with relatively good incomes are increasingly burdened by the responsibility of supporting unemployed relatives and other vulnerable members of their communities. According to him, tackling poverty requires practical policies and strong political will from the federal, state and local governments.

Osifo described local governments as the tier of government closest to the people but lamented that many had become ineffective in addressing grassroots challenges. He argued that strengthening local government administration would improve accountability and help reduce poverty and social problems. The PENGASSAN president added that addressing economic hardship should form a central part of the country’s security strategy, stressing that citizens with access to decent livelihoods and basic necessities are less likely to be exposed to conditions that fuel insecurity. He also used the occasion to commend former PENGASSAN leaders for laying the foundation for the union’s growth and for continuing to provide guidance to its current leadership.