Indians taking over jobs in Nigeria’s oil/gas sector – PENGASSAN laments
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has voiced concerns over the increasing presence of expatriates, particularly Indian nationals, in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. PENGASSAN’s President, Mr. Festus Osifo, highlighted that these expatriates are taking over low-level jobs that should be reserved for Nigerians, describing it as a clear abuse of the expatriate quota system.
Speaking at the conclusion of the third edition of the Energy and Labour Summit in Abuja, Osifo revealed that despite the union’s efforts to engage the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board on the issue, there has been little progress. He called on the relevant authorities to take decisive action against companies exploiting the expatriate quota system, which is negatively impacting Nigerian workers.
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“In Sterling Oil today, there are more Indians than Nigerians, with some even occupying positions such as vulcanizers and gatekeepers,” Osifo stated. He accused companies of manipulating the system by registering multiple entities to bring in more expatriates than allowed, further exacerbating the situation.
Osifo warned that if the issue is not addressed, the union might be forced to take more confrontational actions, emphasizing that Nigeria’s oil resources should primarily benefit Nigerians. He also noted that Indian workers at Indorama’s facilities in Port Harcourt are being paid in U.S. dollars, while Nigerian workers struggle with the effects of currency devaluation, a situation he described as unacceptable.
PENGASSAN has called on the Federal Government to protect Nigerian workers’ rights and ensure that the nation’s resources benefit its citizens.
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