The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board approved no fewer than 549 temporary work permits for expatriates in the first three quarters of 2024, while rejecting 43 applications within the same period.
According to The PUNCH, 311 permits were granted in the first quarter, with 32 applications denied. In the second quarter, 72 approvals were issued while three applications were declined.
The third quarter saw 164 temporary work permits approved, with eight rejected.
The document also highlighted progress in workforce localization within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
It revealed that 184 expatriate-held jobs in the upstream segment and one in the midstream segment have been successfully transitioned to Nigerian professionals.
Additionally, the NCDMB took disciplinary action against non-compliant firms, issuing 33 sanctions for violations across the three segments of the petroleum industry.
The guidelines of the NCDMB state that companies operating in the oil and gas industry must strictly adhere to local content requirements when hiring expatriates. Any organization found employing foreign staff without following proper procedures faces penalties.
“Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 68 of the Act, any stakeholder in the industry—including companies providing services or intending to provide services—would be deemed to have committed a breach if it employs or causes to employ any expatriate staff either on permanent or temporary positions in the oil and gas industry outside of the procedures specified in this guideline,” the board stated.
It further warned that “the board would require immediate removal of such expatriate(s) and penalize the company in line with the provisions of the Act.”
The report comes amid concerns raised by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria which recently threatened to withdraw its members from upstream operations nationwide.
The association’s demand was directed at Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company, insisting that the firm must resolve ongoing labor disputes.
PENGASSAN also urged the Federal Government to take action against the alleged presence of 10,699 Indian expatriates working with the company across 15 oil and gas locations in Nigeria.
In response, the NCDMB announced on Monday that it would investigate the claims.
However, findings from its temporary work permit records suggest a significant gap between officially approved expatriate applications and the number of foreigners working in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, NCDMB Executive Secretary Felix Ogbe emphasized the board’s commitment to strengthening indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry.
He noted that the country’s local content level had reached 56 percent, with further reviews underway.
“We are glad to mention that with our efforts, the level of local content in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria has reached 56 percent as of the last count we had,” Ogbe said.
“The review is ongoing right now to enable us to determine where we are in terms of the percentage of local content we have achieved up to date.”
He stressed the need for Nigeria to retain more economic value from its oil industry by increasing local investment and developing indigenous capacity.
