The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has threatened a nationwide strike over what it describes as the blatant violation of Nigeria’s expatriate quota laws by Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO), an Indian-owned oil firm.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, PENGASSAN President, Comrade Festus Osifo, accused SEEPCO of flouting local content policies by employing over 10,000 Indian workers in positions meant for Nigerians. He revealed that regulatory agencies had failed to address the issue despite repeated engagements, leading to growing agitation among oil workers.
Last week, PENGASSAN picketed SEEPCO’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, in protest against alleged anti-labor practices. While the company defended its hiring practices, claiming compliance with federal regulations, Osifo dismissed these claims, pointing to violations of Nigeria’s Local Content Act, particularly:
- Section 35, which reserves junior and intermediate-level jobs for Nigerians.
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Section 32, which limits expatriate staff to 5% of managerial roles.
Osifo alleged that SEEPCO had illegally recruited Indians for roles such as welders, vulcanizers, security personnel, cooks, and panel operators positions legally reserved for Nigerians. He further claimed that Indian expatriates occupied 100% of managerial positions, a direct violation of Nigerian laws.
Demands and Strike Threat
PENGASSAN is demanding:
- Immediate repatriation of all expatriates who have taken jobs meant for Nigerians.
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Reinstatement of 18 sacked Nigerian workers who had protested against unfair labor conditions.
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Unionization of contract workers, as mandated by labor laws.
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Government enforcement of local content policies to hold SEEPCO accountable for violations.
Osifo warned that if these demands were not met, PENGASSAN would not hesitate to shut down the country’s oil and gas industry.
“In a country facing record-high unemployment, it is unacceptable that between 200 to 500 Indian workers arrive in Nigeria every Tuesday, taking jobs meant for our citizens,” Osifo stated.
He questioned why SEEPCO, which has operated in Nigeria for years, continuously flouts labor laws while other oil multinationals and local firms comply.
“Sterling Oil should not be greater than Nigeria,” he declared.
Allegations of Anti-Labor Practices
PENGASSAN further accused SEEPCO of engaging in anti-labor practices, including:
- Unlawful termination of 18 Nigerian workers for demanding better welfare and career progression.
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Blocking the unionization of contract staff, in defiance of directives from the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
As tensions escalate, all eyes are on the Nigerian government to intervene before PENGASSAN follows through on its strike threat, which could cripple the nation’s oil and gas sector.
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