Oil workers in the country have concluded arrangements to hold a Stakeholders' Engagement Forum involving all the major players in the oil and gas industry on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

The forum, which was organised jointly by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), is scheduled for November 13 and 14 in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

A statement from the organisers listed the stakeholders expected to present their positions at the forum to include

the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), International Oil Companies under the aegis of Oil Producers Trade Sector (OPTS), Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) and Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN).

The Centre for Public Policy Alternatives (CPPA) will serve as facilitators of the forum while Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, a professor of oil and gas law and former corporation secretary of the NNPC. will chair the forum. The forum is expected to be declared open by the Governor of Cross River state, Senator Liyel Imoke.

Speaking on the forum, PENGASSAN National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Zaid Kolawole, said, "The PIB, which was recently submitted to the National Assembly, will have far-reaching implication not only for the oil and gas industry but also the nation's economy.

"The session is therefore planned to receive inputs from key stakeholders on the bill's impact on the oil and gas industry. The inputs received from the session will inform PENGASSAN and NUPENG's position on the bill."

"The joint NUPENG-PENGASSAN position collated from the session will be submitted to the National Assembly during the public hearing of the bill.