By By Elizabeth Ugbo
The Movement of Intellectuals for National Development (MIND), a civil society group, on Friday criticized the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for failing to address the mistreatment of Nigerian employees at TotalEnergies, calling for public accountability before the Nigerian Senate.
MIND Accuses PENGASSAN of Inaction
MIND expressed disappointment with PENGASSAN’s attempts to distance itself from a petition submitted to the Senate. The petition detailed alleged violations against local staff at TotalEnergies.
Ebi Warekromo, MIND’s Western coordinator, stated the petition is grounded in factual evidence and real experiences of affected workers. He noted that PENGASSAN’s local branch had previously raised concerns about oppressive management practices and issues involving expatriate staff.
Alleged Violations Highlighted
MIND claimed serious breaches occurred, including security lapses and violations of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act. These issues reportedly stemmed from the illegal extension of expatriate roles beyond approved limits.
The group warned that dismissing these concerns as internal matters is misleading and counterproductive.
Call for Transparency and Public Inquiry
Warekromo emphasized that workers’ rights violations should not remain confidential. “When issues continue to adversely affect workers, they should not be confined to internal discussions,” he said.
MIND insists PENGASSAN’s engagement must yield results or face public scrutiny. The organization called for an immediate public inquiry to hold TotalEnergies accountable.
MIND Defends Its Intervention
The statement clarified that MIND’s action is not an attack on PENGASSAN as an institution. “It is a response to a vacuum of effective representation that has allowed oppressive practices to persist unchecked,” the statement read.
MIND challenged PENGASSAN to participate in a transparent public hearing before the Senate alongside other stakeholders. It warned that attempts to intimidate whistleblowers or enforce confidentiality only increase public concern.
Commitment to Justice
MIND reaffirmed its dedication to fairness and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive sector. The group urged PENGASSAN to reflect on its role and realign with the workers whose trust and mandate give the union legitimacy.
