PENGASSAN plans to withdraw members from upstream operations unless SEEPCO meets its demands. President Festus Osifo warned of major disruptions, citing unfair labor practices and discrimination against Nigerian workers.
PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo warned the government to enforce laws against SEEPCO or risk massive oil revenue losses. He threatened a national strike that could halt upstream operations, as 90% of workers are union members. The NCDMB praised PENGASSAN for exposing expatriate quota abuse and promised a thorough investigation.NCDMB previously sanctioned SEEPCO for violating the NOGICD Act.
In 2017, five unauthorized expatriates led to penalties and mandatory training for Nigerians. In 2018, 402 more unauthorized expatriates and unapproved contracts were discovered.NCDMB penalized SEEPCO, ordering it to disengage 402 expatriates, follow quota rules, comply with contract regulations, and train 40 Nigerians. SEEPCO ignored directives until legal action was taken.In 2020, SEEPCO sought an out-of-court settlement, trained 40 Nigerians by 2022 but failed to meet employment commitments.
It made partial NCDF remittances and ignored other compliance requirements. From 2017-2023, SEEPCO was granted only seven expatriate positions. A performance review is set for March 2025. Expatriate Quota rules apply only to oil and gas firms, with non-oil approvals handled by the Ministry of Interior.
The Board reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the NOGICD Act in the oil and gas sector to enhance job creation, strengthen Nigerian Content, and support economic growth. It warned that firms violating the Act would face sanctions and encouraged collaboration with stakeholders, including oil unions, to achieve its objectives.
