By EMMANUELLA ANOKAM

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has raised concerns over the alleged violation of local content laws by Sterling Oil Exploration and Production Company in Nigeria.

At a News conference on Tuesday in Abuja, Mr Festus Osifo, PENGASSAN?s President accused the company of employing thousands of foreign workers, particularly Indians, for jobs meant for Nigerians.

The association described the development as a blatant disregard for the nation?s regulations and called the Federal Government to take immediate action.

Osifo threatened national strike if nothing was done about it.

He said that Sterling Oil had continuously flouted Nigeria?s labour and expatriated laws by engaging foreign workers in middle and low-level positions.

?We have observed a pattern where Sterling Oil brings in expatriates to fill jobs that Nigerians are qualified for. Every Tuesday, between 200 and 500 Indian workers arrive in Nigeria, replacing others on time off.

?These include welders, vulcanisers, gatekeepers, cooks, and even communication personnel,? he said.

He further alleged that Sterling Oil had failed to comply with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Act, which mandates that only Nigerians be employed in junior and mid-level positions.

?Section 35 of the NCDMB Act clearly states that all operators in Nigeria?s oil and gas industry must employ only Nigerians in junior and middle-level roles.

?However, Sterling Oil has continuously violated this law, with its entire management structure dominated by Indian expatriates,? he added.

He also accused the company of union suppression, stating that 18 workers were allegedly dismissed for demanding better working conditions and questioning their collective bargaining agreement.

?The sacked workers were merely advocating for their welfare, training, and career growth, yet they were unjustly dismissed.

?Additionally, Sterling Oil has prevented a section of its workforce from unionising under the guise of manpower contracts,? the union leader alleged.

The association further called on the Ministry of Interior to clarify its role in issuing expatriate quotas to Sterling Oil, alleging that the ministry had overstepped its legal mandate.

?The NCDMB has distanced itself from granting expatriate quotas to Sterling, stating that only five approvals were given between 2017 and 2023. However, our findings suggest that the Ministry of Interior has been issuing these quotas unlawfully,? he said.

PENGASSAN urged the Federal Government and relevant authorities to investigate the company?s operations, ensure compliance with Nigerian labour laws, and address the alleged irregularities in expatriate quota approvals.

?The time to act is now. Nigeria?s oil industry must not be short-changed, and we will continue to push for justice.

?We demand that all Indian workers should go, and Sterling must bring back 18 Nigerians who were sacked because they were pioneering this struggle in 2018, they must be brought back immediately.

?All manpower contracts that they have denied from joining the union, first, they must be staffed, and secondly, they must be allowed to join the union. Then all welfare issues that are bothering our members in Sterling must be clearly addressed,? he said. (NAN)

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