The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr Gbenga Komolafe has assured oil industry workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) that staff welfare would remain a priority for the Commission.

He said this would ensure industrial harmony and smooth operations of the sector.

A statement by Mr. Paul Osu in Abuja, said Komolafe gave the assurance when the Presidents of PENGASSAN, Mr. Festus Osifo and NUPENG, Mr. Williams Akporeha visited him yesterday.

He stated that the objective of the collaboration was to foster appropriate synergy to enable smooth operations in overriding national interest.

He reiterated that since his assumption of office, staff welfare has been his cardinal focus and that was the reason he immediately implemented the promotion of staff who had been stagnated over the years to motivate and promote industrial harmony.

He emphasized that he set up work teams on assumption of office with clear terms of reference to address issues of staff welfare like legacy issues which requires redress for the sake of justice and fairness.

He promised that as part and parcel of the union he will continue to promote equity   in the affairs of the Commission and in accordance with the Petroleum industry Act (PIA) 2021

On their part, the labour leaders while congratulating the CCE on his appointment assured him of their readiness to collaborate with the Commission in all areas of oil and gas industry operations as a major stakeholder.

They reiterated their belief in dialogue as a means to resolve industrial issues and thanked the CCE for the recent promotion of stagnated staff.