Expose sponsors of terrorism, PENGASSAN charges FG

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The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has added its voice to growing concerns over insecurity in the country, urging the Federal Government to name and prosecute sponsors of terrorism and take immediate steps to halt the rising wave of kidnappings.

The union warned that the escalating insecurity poses a serious threat to national development and the safety of citizens. PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, made the call on Thursday at a press conference following the union’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

Recall that the National Assembly on Wednesday called for the public naming and prosecution of terrorism financiers in Nigeria as the Federal Government explores measures to address the growing insecurity across the country.

Both the Senate and House of Representatives pushed for the exposure of terrorism financiers during their plenary sessions as a way of addressing the security crisis facing the country.

The proposal, sponsored by the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, seeks to classify kidnapping, hostage-taking, and related crimes as terrorism, giving security agencies wider powers to track, disrupt, and prosecute criminal networks across the country.

Weighing in on the matter with their perspective, the labour union said insecurity continues to plague the nation, warning that the situation has worsened in recent weeks.

Osifo said that while the recent appointment of a new Minister of Defence was a welcome development, personnel changes alone would not solve Nigeria’s security crisis. “Beyond changing personnel, the government, at all levels, must act decisively to stop this mess,” he said.

He questioned why, despite claims that authorities know the sponsors of terrorist groups, they had not been publicly named or brought to justice.

He said, “Gentlemen of the press, during the NEC session, we discussed issues that are plaguing our country today, bordering on the state of insecurity in Nigeria. We have all seen how insecurity has been plaguing our land, how this particular challenge has worsened in the last few weeks.

“Yes, we just received that a new Minister of Defence will be sworn in in the next few hours or thereabouts. But beyond changing personnel, beyond bringing in one personnel to replace the other, which we value so much, because we strongly believe in human capital, the government, both at the federal, state, and local levels, should do everything possible to curb this mess.

“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? We are tired of always having one minute’s silence for our brothers and our sisters.

“We are tired of always coming up to keep condemning and condemning and condemning. Beyond condemnation, beyond rhetoric, like the government, even if it takes us to look at those sectors that are not critical, we can go to the National Assembly and divert the funds that are there for the sectors that are not critical, divert them, and use them to buy sophisticated equipment to go after these terrorists. Because it is a country that is safe.”

The union also decried Nigeria’s economic hardships, pointing to soaring prices in the markets despite reported reductions in inflation.

Osifo urged the government to ensure macroeconomic policies translate into tangible relief for Nigerians, particularly in controlling food prices and enabling farmers to return to their fields.

On labour matters, PENGASSAN noted that its ongoing industrial issue with Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd, which culminated in an industrial action two months ago, remains unresolved.

Giving an update, he said, “We also looked at the issues that are plaguing our branches. And you know that recently we had some challenges at Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. Since our last National Industrial Action, we have been engaging them in many conversations. But the issues are not fully resolved.”

He also stressed the need for firms across the oil and gas sector to review wages in the wake of naira devaluation, noting the global demand for Nigerian oil and gas skills.

A business, investment, infrastructure and property correspondent currently with The PUNCH, Aina is a media professional with over three years experience

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