PENGASSAN warns against danger of misapplying technology

PETROLEUM and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (PENGASSAN), has called on politicians not to use technology against the wishes of the people in the forth-coming general elections.
President of PENGASSAN, Olabode Johnson,stated this during a two-Day capacity building workshop held for members of the Port-Harcourt Zone of the association. The workshop, held under the theme, ‘Labour Leader: Impact of Technology, Politics and Leadership Skills on Industrial Relations in the Workplace’ took place in Cihcotel Classique Hotel, Awka, Anambra State.
Comrade Johnson reasoned that a misapplication of technology can set the country on a dangerous slide.  “The role technology is playing in our match towards 2019 election explain why the political class should be careful not to misapply it to the detriment of the peace and unity of our dear country,” he said.
He described the workshop as not only apt but timely as technological innovations and political decisions greatly impact workers.
In his address of welcome, PENGASSAN Port-Harcourt  Zone President, Comrade Azubuike M. Azubuike, said it was the earnest desire of the leadership of his zone to run an all-inclusive administration hence the choice of Anambra State for the first time in the history of PENGASSAN, as venue of the workshop. He said the hosting was not only because the state falls under Port Harcourt Zone but because Anambra State boasts of a friendly Governor in the person of Chief Willie Obiano.
In her opening speech, chairperson of the event, Executive Director, Tecon Oil Services Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Blossom Maduafokwa, said the workshop was the perfect platform to forge a better understanding among stakeholders in the oil and gas industry with the ultimate goal of improving labour relations and enhancing productivity.
Maduafokwa who was represented by Mr. Sam Ero, noted that, “more often than not, workers become worse off in the wake of the deployment of advanced technology due to lack of a proactive embrace of such technological know-how. Sometimes employees have an unwarranted ‘fear’ of learning new and improved ways doing business with the aid of new technology.”
A resource person, Mr. Henry Igbinomwanhia, Chief Executive Officer, Herd Consulting, Abuja, in his paper titled, Sharpening Leadership Skills of Labour leaders to achieve union cohesion, Industrial Peace and Harmony in the workplace, urged trade unions to always go for regular, productive negotiations and communications with management as it is in the better interest of the industry and society to ensure that all efforts are exhausted before resorting to industrial actions.
The workshop ended with a charity visit to the Divine Mercy Compassion Home Orphanage Home, Amawbia, where the association made some cash and gift donations to the orphans.