By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The newly elected Secretary General of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade Jerry Amah, has called for concrete action on the issues raised at the 5th edition of the PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit (PEALS) 2026, stressing that the impact of the summit must extend beyond speeches and deliberations.
Amah made the call in his closing remarks at PEALS 2026 in Abuja, where he spoke publicly for the first time in his capacity as PENGASSAN Secretary General.
He said the summit had provided a platform for robust discussions, fresh ideas and honest reflections on the future of Nigeria’s energy industry and the role of labour in shaping that future.
According to him, the participation of government officials, industry stakeholders, academics, labour leaders and other members of the broader community demonstrated the importance of collective engagement in addressing the challenges confronting the energy sector.
He expressed appreciation to the speakers, analysts, government representatives, industry players, academics, labour leaders and all participants for contributing their knowledge, experience and perspectives to the summit.
Amah noted that the energy sector could not be viewed in isolation from Nigeria’s broader national development, stressing that energy was directly connected to employment, economic stability, national competitiveness and the quality of life of Nigerians.
“Ultimately, energy is about the future of Nigeria,” he said, adding that the conversations at PEALS 2026 must continue after participants leave the summit.
He challenged stakeholders to measure the success of the summit not by the quality of speeches delivered, but by what happens afterwards.
“What policies will change? What commitments will be implemented? What investments will be unlocked? What obstacles will be removed? What will we do differently? Perhaps most importantly, how will Nigerian workers and the Nigerian people feel the impact of the decisions we have made?” he asked.
The PENGASSAN Secretary General reaffirmed the union’s commitment to constructive engagement, saying the association would continue to defend the interests of Nigerian workers while recognising that the welfare of workers was inseparable from the growth and sustainability of the industry.
Amah also described his first PEALS summit as Secretary General as a moment of significant responsibility and humility, noting that leadership was about stewardship rather than the individual occupying an office.
“Leadership is about stewardship. It is about receiving an institution that others have built, strengthening it during our time, and handing it over to those who come after us in a better shape,” he said.
He further paid tribute to PENGASSAN President Comrade Festus Osifo, describing PEALS as an important institutional legacy of his leadership.
Amah said what began as an idea had developed into a major platform for engagement among labour, government, industry and other stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities in Nigeria’s energy sector.
He noted that true legacies were measured not only by individual achievements but by the institutions and initiatives that continued to grow after their initiators had moved on.
“Your chapter, as initiator of this summit, may be closing today. But the institution that you helped create continues,” he said.
He assured that the association would build on the foundation laid by the outgoing leadership by preserving what works, improving areas that require attention and taking bold decisions where necessary.
Amah concluded by urging stakeholders to sustain the dialogue initiated at PEALS 2026, stressing that the next phase must focus on translating the summit’s resolutions into tangible action.
“As we close this summit, I want to leave a simple understanding: the conversation must continue, for action cannot be delayed,” he said.
