PENGASSAN accuses Indian companies of misusing expatriate quota in Nigeria

THE Petroleum and Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has criticised for International Oil Companies (IOCs) of abusing the expatriate quota system, which has led to discrimination against skilled Nigerian workers in the oil and gas sector.

Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN, voiced these concerns during his address at the conclusion of the 2024 PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit (PEALS) in Abuja, at the weekend.

He highlighted what he termed as discriminatory practices by expatriates, particularly Indian nationals, who, according to him, are monopolising jobs that Nigerians are qualified to perform.

Osifo expressed frustration over the ongoing abuse of the expatriate quota law despite the existence of local content regulations designed to enhance Nigeria’s capacity in the sector. He urged regulatory authorities to take action against these violations.

Osifo pointed out: “In companies like Sterling Oil, we see a disproportionately high number of Indian staff, even in basic roles such as vulcanising, compared to Nigerian employees. Their plant operations are dominated by Indians, whereas other companies have more Nigerian staff in similar positions. We have previously raised these concerns with the NCDMB about the misuse of the expatriate quota.”

At the summit, other industry experts discussed future challenges and emphasised the need to bridge the gap between global standards and Nigeria’s current practices to better attract and retain talent. They stressed the importance of collaboration among industry leaders to tackle leadership issues, foster innovation and embrace diversity for a sustainable future.