The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote has challenged oil and gas workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to brace up for demands of the 4th Industrial Revolution that has brought Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Energy Transition, and other concepts into the oil and gas industry.
Engr. Wabote gave the charge recently while delivering a lecture at the PENGASSAN National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The Executive Secretary hinted that the switch to fully automated Floating Production Storage and Offloading (vessel) with zero manning on board and countries phasing out petrol driven cars were implications on the type and number of jobs that would be available and the skills sets that would be demanded.
He urged the union leaders to organize strategic workshops and implement plans to transit their members into emerging job roles armed with necessary skill to fit into the emerging eco-system of the energy transition.
Delivering his remarks, the National President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Festus Osifo disclosed that the gathering was to re-assess the implementation of the Association’s plans towards the improvement of the welfare of its members as well as furthering the growth of the union.
He added that the meeting was also to review some of the interventions made by the union to ensure that government policies on the oil and gas industry benefit not only its members but also engender economic growth.
Comrade Osifo maintained that the meeting was a time to review its strategies, advocacy initiatives and approach of engagement to re-align them with the current realities even as it strives to protect its members and other Nigerians who may not have a platform to speak for them.
The union leader enumerated ongoing reforms and development within the industry that have far-reaching effects on stakeholders in which the association has made its position known.
He added that engagement is ongoing on others such as the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Rehabilitation of Refineries, Casualization and Contract Staffing issues, Gas Utilization Plan, and the State of the Nation.
