*Stakeholders Blame Ministry Of Interior, NCDMB, Others
Following protests by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) at the Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) headquarters in Lagos on Monday, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has said it will investigate the alleged expatriate anti-labour practices and quota violations by the oil company.
The protest was led by the National President of PENGASSAN, Festus Osifo, who raised concerns over SEEPCO’s alleged preference for expatriates over qualified Nigerian workers.
Specifically, Osifo had alleged while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’ program on March 16, blamed the ministry of interior and other government agencies like NCDMB for the continued violations of the nation’s quota system.
He made specific reference to the company’s preference for the Indians, who he alleged are mostly not more qualified than Nigerians.
He further alleged that substantial numbers of these ‘expatriates’ come into the country on monthly basis without relevantl papers while the ministry and agencies continue to look the other way, while these actions are being perpetrated by the company.
However, a press statement issued by the NCDMB on Monday, explained the importance of the move as it reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing local content laws in the oil and gas sector.
The Board commended the union for bringing the matter to public attention, emphasising that it has taken enforcement actions against SEEPCO in the past.
NCDMB noted that through its Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010, it has ensured that 609 technical positions were reserved for Nigerians between 2020 and 2024, reinforcing Nigeria’s capacity to manage complex oil and gas operations.
The NCDMB assured PENGASSAN and the public that it would conduct a thorough investigation into SEEPCO’s latest alleged violations.
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Curiously, the NCDMB disclosed that SEEPCO had previously faced sanctions for breaching Nigerian content laws.
In 2017, the Board penalised the company after discovering five expatriates working without necessary approvals. To remediate the violation, SEEPCO was directed to train five Nigerians in Marine Engineering and Subsurface Drilling Engineering.
In 2018, NCDMB identified another infraction in which SEEPCO illegally deployed 402 expatriates, alongside unauthorised project executions.
In response to the infractions, the Board imposed penalties and ordered the company to disengage the expatriates and provide proof of their exit, follow proper expatriate quota application processes, adhere to NCDMB’s rules on tendering and awarding contracts, reconcile and pay outstanding remittances to the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF), and train and employ 40 Nigerians as remediation.
However, it said SEEPCO allegedly ignored these directives, prompting the Board to initiate legal proceedings under Section 68 of the NOGICD Act.
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“In 2020, SEEPCO sought an out-of-court settlement and committed to addressing the compliance issues and undertaking the remediation. SEEPCO completed the training of 40 Nigerians in 2022, but the employment commitment was not achieved. Additionally, SEEPCO made only partial NCDF remittances.
“SEEPCO has refused to respond and comply with other Nigerian Content requirements,” the statement added.
The Board also noted that it had requested statutory submissions from SEEPCo and scheduled a performance review session for March 2025.
It reiterated its stance on prioritising Nigerian talent in the oil and gas sector and warned that firms failing to comply with local content laws would face legal consequences.
NCDMB said it is committed to the effective implementation and enforcement of the NOGICD Act in the oil and gas sector, “with a view to creating employment opportunities for Nigerians.”
It added that it would not fail to sanction companies that violate provisions of the NOGICD Act.