PENGASSAN Implements Innovative Leadership Transition Framework

According to Festus Osifo, the president of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), the organization has implemented a new succession model intended to avoid animosity, factionalization, and protracted conflicts during leadership changes.

Osifo revealed this on Saturday in Abuja during a day of remembrance held by the association in memory of its late former president, Francis Johnson.

After a brief illness, Johnson, the president of PENGASSAN from June 2014 to May 31, 2019, passed away on May 31, 2019, at the National Hospital in Abuja.

The union’s approach to succession has also been influenced by the memory of Johnson’s unexpected death and the leadership void it caused; PENGASSAN is currently working to institutionalize a more seamless transition process.

According to the president of PENGASSAN, the union changed its constitution to implement a succession plan akin to that of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, in which the president would be automatically succeeded by the elected deputy president.

According to him, the arrangement was designed to ensure a more seamless transfer of power and eliminate the fierce competition for the presidency.

He claims that the union reviewed the difficulties that had traditionally accompanied changes in the association’s leadership before introducing the new model.

He added, “In fact, we did a constitutional amendment that was unanimously passed in August last year, where we looked at it: what is the best model that we have in our country in terms of succession? We looked at the Nigerian Bar Association and said no, that is not the best model. We looked at ICAN, for example.

“We said, yes, I think there is something there. If you look at ICAN, they don’t contest the election into the president, but they contest the election into the vice because the president is already known. Because he is known, the senior or the first vice-president will transit to become the president. So, that balances and smoothens whatever they were doing. And we have imbibed that in PENGASSAN.

“In PENGASSAN, whoever is the deputy president elected is going to automatically become the president. So, there is no contestation again in the office of the president. So, that is known. So, because that is known, it reduces the tension that normally comes. And I will tell you, our transition is going to be in August. Normally, two years before transition in PENGASSAN, you will see problems everywhere.

“But I will tell you, 100 per cent stability. The National Executive Council and the Central Working Committee, we are intact. The transition is going smoothly. There is no issue as of today whatsoever. And that is one thing that we are proud of. That is one of the legacies to bequeath to this institution that has been founded since 1978.”

The union is scheduled to hold its delegates conference on August 22, 2026, when the transition process will take place.