The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) says it is intensifying efforts to monitor and evaluate activities toward identifying operators involved in illegal deployment of expatriates in the oil and gas sector.

The NCDMB, in a statement issued on its Twitter account on Tuesday and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, warned that erring operators would receive appropriate sanctions.

“NCDMB will intensify monitoring and evaluation activities to identify companies violating the statutory provisions of the DPR manpower supply permits and perpetuating illegal expatriate deployments.

“This is with a view to invoking appropriate sanctions and penalties as specified in the Immigration Act, 2015 and Immigration Regulation, 2017 as well as the NOGID Act,’’ it said.

The statement said the Ministry of Interior and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), had been notified of the illegal use of the Statutory Oil and Gas Industry Service Permits issued by the DPR.

It explained that the permits were issued to supply “Nigerian professionals only” and not to be used by operators and contractors to supply expatriates to the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

The statement said: “The permits clearly indicate that they are not to be used to deploy expatriates under any circumstance or guise.

“It is also disturbing that operators and major service providers promote this illegal practice by entering into contract agreements with these manpower supply companies to source expatriates for positions which in several cases had been earmarked to be occupied by Nigerians.”

According to the statement, the practice circumvents laid down statutory approval processes and compliance with requirements for obtaining expatriate quota positions.

It therefore warned the companies to henceforth ensure that no expatriates were deployed under such manpower supply contracts under any guise.

The statement said companies seeking to engage expatriates in the sector must ensure that they obtained the relevant approvals from NCDMB.

It said thereafter such companies should apply for expatriate quota and temporary work permit or other entry permits from the interior ministry and Nigeria Immigration Service.

It added that companies deploying expatriates in the industry must ensure full compliance with the guidelines and requirements of the ministry of interior and NCDMB.

It listed the guidelines to include registration with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System (NOGICJQS) as well as biometrics enrolment of all expatriate personnel in their employment. (NAN)

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