Financial Energy Review
……by Ben Ndubuwa…..
The President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSEN), Fetus Osifo, has demanded that Sterling Oil and Gas Company must disengage the 10,000 Indian expatriates currently employed at the company and replace them with qualified Nigerians seeking job opportunities in the oil and gas industry. He adde
Osifo raised serious concerns about the practices used by Sterling Oil and Gas to bring in large numbers of Indian workers, alleging that the company had been bypassing Nigerian labor laws by utilizing multiple Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). These SPVs are reportedly being used to circumvent the employment quotas set for expatriates and bring in more foreign workers.
Speaking during a rally and the picketing by the labour union of Sterling Oil Company head office at Victoria Island, Lagos, Osifo, the company has been involved in a systematic process to bring in Indian nationals under the guise of multiple companies. “They will go to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), register hundreds of companies, and use these companies to bring in these Indian workers. So, they don’t just bring them in through one company, but through numerous others” he said.
The PENGASSEN president claimed that these practices were designed to get around Nigerian labor laws, which require companies to prioritize Nigerian workers unless there is a clear and substantiated shortage of local skills. “They have even openly stated that they have the Nigerian institutions and authorities in their pocket. They have made it clear that they can manipulate the system to ensure that these expatriates are allowed into the country,” Osifo continued.
This revelation has raised eyebrows across the country, with questions being asked about the role of the Nigerian government in regulating labor imports and whether the Ministry of Labour and the National Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) are doing enough to safeguard Nigerian workers’ rights. Osifo has emphasized that PENGASSEN has long raised these concerns with the relevant authorities, but action has yet to be taken.
“We have drawn the attention of the entire country to it now. We will not rest until this issue is addressed. If they continue to ignore us, we will keep pushing. We will remain strong on this” He added.
The PENGASSEN leader explained that the primary issue lies in the fact that these expatriates are taking jobs that could easily be performed by qualified Nigerians, especially in low-skilled positions. “In a typical oil and gas company, these jobs are done by Nigerians. But in Sterling Oil and Gas, you have Indians acting as vulcanizers, welders, gatekeepers, and even cooks who are preparing Nigerian food,” Osifo stated. “You even have Indians running the communication department. There is nothing technical about these jobs, and Nigerians are more than capable of filling these roles.”
Osifo’s statements were further corroborated by a recent check, which revealed that the head of communications at Sterling Oil and Gas is, indeed, an Indian national. He also referenced a conversation with a journalist, who confirmed that the company’s communication team is largely made up of expatriates. “What is difficult about running a communication department? Most of you journalists are communication experts—so why can’t Nigerians be hired for these positions?” Osifo remarked.
Addressing the Ministry of Labour and the NUPRC, Osifo expressed cautious optimism. “We believe that the new ministers in the Ministry of Labour will do what is right. We have faith in them, and we hope they will act decisively to correct this situation. The current leadership must ensure that these 10,000 Indian workers are sent packing and that their roles are replaced with qualified Nigerians,” he added.
In response to inquiries about the scale of Sterling Oil and Gas’ operations, Osifo explained that the company currently produces around 80,000 barrels of oil per day, with operations spread across the Niger Delta region. He emphasized that the sheer number of foreign workers employed at Sterling is a result of the extensive roles they fill within the company, many of which he argued could be done by Nigerians with the proper training and opportunities.
“I am not saying that all foreign workers are unnecessary,” Osifo clarified. “But it’s about the scale and the type of jobs they are filling. When you have Indian workers filling roles such as gatekeepers, cooks, and communication officers, that’s a problem.”
Osifo further criticized the former Minister of Labour, accusing the past administration of being complicit in this practice. “Under the previous Minister of Labour, the system was manipulated to support the hiring of expatriates instead of Nigerians. When we raised these issues, they were either ignored or silenced. But we are determined that this will not continue.”
Looking ahead, Osifo stressed that PENGASSEN would remain vigilant and would not hesitate to call out the Ministry of Labour, NUPRC, or any other institution involved in perpetuating the current system. “We will continue to hold their feet to the fire until these issues are addressed. If the Ministry of Labour does not act, we will expose them. This is not about politics; this is about the future of Nigerian workers.”
Osifo’s remarks come as the NUPRC is set to meet with all stakeholders, including PENGASSEN, next week to discuss the growing concerns over the employment practices of Sterling Oil and Gas. However, Osifo was firm in his stance: PENGASSEN will not back down until concrete actions are taken to safeguard Nigerian jobs in the oil and gas industry.
As the debate continues, Nigerians will be watching closely to see whether the new leadership in the Ministry of Labour will heed the call for greater accountability and ensure that Nigerian workers are given the priority they deserve in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
