Bosun Olabiyi-Agoro has been elected as the new President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), succeeding Festus Osifo, who held the position for six years. Olabiyi-Agoro's election marks a significant transition for the association, which took place during its Quadrennial National Delegates Conference at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

In his inaugural address, Olabiyi-Agoro emphasized that tackling casualisation and the issue of prolonged contract staffing in the oil and gas sector will be a top priority for his administration. He stated that the current landscape of the industry, characterized by divestments, restructuring, and automation, necessitates a robust approach to job protection. "In this era of divestments, business reorganisation, automation, and energy transition, no PENGASSAN member will be left behind," he asserted.

Olabiyi-Agoro, a seasoned petroleum engineer with over 20 years of experience, currently serves at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. His previous roles include significant leadership positions within Baker Hughes and EA Temile and Sons. Before his election as president, he held various union leadership roles, including National Financial Secretary and National Auditor of PENGASSAN.

During the conference, the new leadership team was unveiled, with George Nwoko appointed as Deputy President and Dominic Abang as National Industrial Relations Officer. The only contested position was that of National Auditor I, where Rex Orji emerged victorious.

In his acceptance speech, Olabiyi-Agoro paid tribute to his predecessor, Festus Osifo, recognizing his contributions in strengthening PENGASSAN's influence in the industry. He expressed gratitude for Osifo's leadership and indicated that his administration would build upon the foundation laid during Osifo's tenure.

A critical aspect of Olabiyi-Agoro's agenda is the defense of collective bargaining agreements. He warned employers against neglecting the implementation of signed agreements, asserting that fairness and collaboration should be the guiding principles in employer-employee relations. "Agreements signed must be agreements kept," he stated, indicating a commitment to ensuring that workers' rights are upheld.

Furthermore, Olabiyi-Agoro highlighted the need to address the classification of workers who have been in temporary positions for extended periods. He argued that it is unjust for individuals performing permanent functions to be labeled as temporary staff, stating, "The time management uses contract staffing strategy to molest workers... is effectively over."

The new leadership also aims to invest in digital skills, women's empowerment, and the overall welfare of workers as the energy sector evolves. Olabiyi-Agoro expressed a desire for collaboration with government and industry stakeholders, emphasizing that PENGASSAN's objectives are aligned with national interests. "We are not anti-business. We are pro-Nigeria. We want production up, investment in, and Nigerian content protected. But that can only happen when workers are respected and treated fairly," he concluded.