The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has raised serious concerns over the increasing influx of Indian expatriates in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The issue was brought to light by PENGASSAN President, Mr. Festus Osifo, during the closing ceremony of the 3rd Energy and Labour Summit held in Abuja. The summit, themed “The Future of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry: Energy Mix, Energy Security, Artificial Intelligence, Divestment, and Crude Oil Theft,” highlighted various challenges facing the sector.
Mr. Osifo expressed alarm over the growing dominance of expatriates, particularly from India, in roles that should be reserved for Nigerians. He pointed out that in Sterling Oil, the number of Indian workers surpasses that of Nigerians, with Indian nationals occupying roles as operators, vulcanizers, and even gatekeepers.
“They are taking over low-level jobs, which is a blatant abuse of the expatriate quota system.”
The PENGASSAN President criticized the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board for its inability to curb this trend despite continuous engagement. He further alleged that Indian companies are manipulating the system by registering multiple companies to exploit the expatriate quota system. He emphasized that the union is prepared for confrontation if necessary, declaring
“Our graduates who are fresh out of universities are desperately searching for jobs, yet we continue to grant expatriate quotas to these Indian companies, who in turn abuse the system.
We cannot be slaves in Nigeria. Nigeria’s oil resources belong to Nigerians, and it should benefit them first and foremost.”
Osifo also highlighted a similar situation at Indorama’s facilities in Port Harcourt, where the number of Indian employees exceeds that of Nigerians, with the former being paid in U.S. dollars while Nigerian workers suffer from the impact of currency devaluation.
“This situation is unacceptable and it must be addressed now.”
Osifo calls on the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action to protect Nigerian workers’ rights and opportunities.
The PENGASSAN President’s remarks have ignited a renewed debate on the need to prioritize Nigerian labor in the country’s critical oil and gas sector, urging authorities to clamp down on companies exploiting the expatriate quota system to the detriment of the local workforce.
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