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NNPC urges PENGASSAN to strengthen regulatory discipline in oil sector – EnviroNews
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The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd., Bashir Ojulari, has urged PENGASSAN to strengthen regulatory discipline to promote stability and growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Ojulari made the call on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, in Abuja at the opening of 2026 Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) Energy and Labour Summit (PEALS 2026).
The summit, organised by PENGASSAN, is themed, “Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks as a Catalyst for Stability and Growth in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry.”
Ojulari said effective regulation depended on professionalism, governance and accountability.
“A regulatory framework, however well written, is only as strong as the people who apply it every day.
“So, before we speak of frameworks and policy, we must speak of the people who give them life.
“Our people remain our most important asset, and the professionals represented by PENGASSAN contribute daily to our operations, our safety record, our governance and our national energy security,” Ojulari said.
He said PENGASSAN members contributed significantly to industry operations, safety, governance and national energy security, stressing that NNPC Limited remained committed to building a people-centred organisation where employees could thrive.
Ojulari said the company’s values, including enterprise-first mindset, execution excellence, profitable growth and partnership, depended on how employees were treated, motivated and engaged.
He urged industry stakeholders to base decisions on facts, sound governance and established rules, while protecting the long-term interests of their organisations, the sector and nation.
“Are we challenging waste, indiscipline and recklessness wherever they threaten the stability and growth of our sector?” he asked.
He, therefore, stressed that regulatory discipline should become a shared standard nationwide.
The GCEO said sectoral stability required effective regulation and enforcement, as well as a valued and fairly treated workforce, adding that NNPC Limited was improving its employee value proposition.
He urged PENGASSAN leaders and members to engage government and industry stakeholders constructively, while keeping workers’ welfare and dignity central to engagements and policy discussions affecting the sector.
He said Nigeria’s oil and gas industry would thrive when strong regulatory frameworks were matched by disciplined execution, responsible conduct and trusted partnerships across all levels of operations.
Ojulari reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to working with PENGASSAN and other stakeholders to promote stability, growth and sustainable development across Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Also speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammad Dingyadi, called for robust regulatory frameworks to promote stability, investor confidence and growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Dingyadi said strong regulations were essential for responsible resource management, workers’ protection and improved competitiveness, stressing that stable labour relations remained critical to stability in the sector.
“Strong regulatory frameworks are the bedrock upon which stability, investor confidence and equitable growth are built,” Dingyadi said.
By Joan Nwagwu