PENGASSAN may consider strike over invasion of oil sector by foreigners

There is a possibility that the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) is considering a strike to halt the invasion of the industry by foreign nationals, especially Indians.

President of the association, Festus Osifo, who stated this at the end of the third edition of the PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit in Abuja, hinted that the union has grown frustrated as its efforts to stop the massive entrance have not yielded tangible results

He said: “What is left for us might probably be confrontation. We are fully prepared because we cannot be slaves in Nigeria. Nigeria’s oil resources belong to Nigerians and it should benefit them first and foremost.”

Speaking under the theme: ‘The Future of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry: Energy Mix, Energy Security, Artificial Intelligence, Divestment, and Crude Oil Theft’, he urged the Federal Government to halt the unhealthy development.

His words: “They are taking over low-level jobs, which is a blatant abuse of the expatriate quota system.

“In Sterling Oil today, it will amaze you to discover that we have more Indians working there compared to the number of Nigerians. In fact, up to vulcanizers, you have Indians carrying out such low jobs and functions in all their plants as operators and some are even gatekeeping operators.”

On what PENGASSAN is doing to stem the tide, Osifo hinted that the union’s engagement with the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has been futile so far.

Linking the raging unemployment rate confronting Nigeria, Osifo flayed the lack of political will by the government to expose job seekers to available job opportunities, especially in the oil and gas industry.

He added: “But we keep granting expatriate quota to these Indian companies and they have abused it. Some companies have manipulated the system by registering numerous companies to facilitate the influx of expatriates.”

Osifo disclosed that there are over 200 registered companies that are perpetrating the act.

“When they are bringing in 10 Indians, they will use one company. Tomorrow, when they are bringing in another 20, they will use another company.

“So, if you check, you will discover that over 100 or 200 companies registered to spread these Indians across the board,” Osifo said.

He assured that PENGASSAN is not relenting on confronting the situation saying the association has been engaging stakeholders over the past two years to address the issue without result.

PENGASSAN chief urged the Federal Government to act fast and to protect Nigerian workers’ rights and opportunities.

He disclosed that the number of Indian nationals employed at Indorama facilities in Port Harcourt surpasses that of Nigerians.

He said foreign workers are paid in U.S. dollars while Nigerian workers grappled with the effects of currency devaluation.

“This situation is unacceptable and it must be addressed now,” Osifo said.