By Chinedu Echianu
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called for stricter enforcement of expatriate quota requirements in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry to ensure that foreign workers are engaged only where genuine skill gaps exist.
The association also demanded measurable knowledge transfer and succession plans to enable qualified Nigerians take over positions currently occupied by expatriates.
The call was contained in a communique read by the outgoing PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, at the end of the three-day PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit in Abuja.
The summit, which focused on strengthening Nigeria’s regulatory framework as a catalyst for stability and growth in the oil and gas industry, brought together government representatives, regulators, oil companies, investors, organised labour and other industry stakeholders.
PENGASSAN said the implementation of Nigerian content policies must go beyond procurement targets to the development of Nigerian companies and professionals capable of competing on competence, quality, governance and cost.
It urged stronger enforcement of expatriate quota provisions, stressing that foreign expatriates should be deployed principally to areas where there are genuine skills shortages.
According to PENGASSAN, Nigeria must deliberately develop a future-ready workforce through continuous technical training, digital capabilities, leadership development and skills required for the emerging energy sector.
The demand formed part of wider recommendations by the summit aimed at making Nigeria’s oil and gas sector more competitive and attractive to investment.
The association said Nigeria could not rely solely on its large hydrocarbon reserves to attract global capital, noting that the country must also provide competitive fiscal and commercial terms, security, predictable regulations and efficient project execution.
It also called for greater stability and predictability in the regulatory environment, improved coordination among government and regulatory institutions, and the elimination of overlapping mandates, repetitive approvals and conflicting directives.
PENGASSAN maintained that regulation should simultaneously protect national interests, workers, host communities, investors, safety and the environment while enabling legitimate businesses to operate efficiently.
On employment, the summit stressed that capital and labour were complementary rather than competing interests, arguing that sustainable investment required skilled, motivated and fairly treated workers.
It called for stronger protection of workers’ jobs, accrued benefits, pensions, collective bargaining agreements and other established rights, particularly during acquisitions, divestments and asset transfers.
PENGASSAN further urged government, regulators, employers, organised labour and educational institutions to establish stronger platforms for regular engagement on challenges confronting the industry, with measurable targets for investment, production, employment, infrastructure and skills development.
The association said Nigeria’s major challenge was no longer a lack of petroleum resources, human capacity or market opportunities, but the ability to convert these advantages into investment, infrastructure, production, sustainable employment and shared prosperity.
It therefore urged all stakeholders to make execution a priority, insisting that the strength of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry should ultimately be measured by projects delivered, value created, Nigerian capability developed, decent jobs sustained and prosperity generated for citizens.
