By Bimbola Oyesola
Workers in the upstream sector of Nigeria’s economy shut down operations at the headquarters of Sterling Oil Exploration in Victoria Island, Lagos. The shutdown, which took place yesterday, was due to allegations of anti-labour activities and discriminatory practices by the company.
The protest, which was spearheaded by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), saw union leaders and workers converge at the company’s premises as early as 6 a.m. While chanting solidarity songs, the protesters accused the management of Sterling Oil of engaging in unscrupulous practices that undermine labour rights.
The demonstrators carried placards with inscriptions such as “Reinstate Sacked Nigerian Workers,” “Stop Collective Bargaining Agreement Violations,” and “End Expatriate Abuse,” among others.
Addressing journalists and union members, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo criticised Sterling Oil’s management for abusing Nigeria’s expatriate quota system. He alleged that the company consistently discriminates against skilled Nigerian professionals in favor of Indian expatriates.
According to Osifo, Sterling Oil employs over 10,000 expatriates who he alleges are all Indian nationals, while sidelining Nigerian workers. “Our members at Sterling Oil have been marginalised. They should disclose how many Nigerians hold managerial or executive positions in their organisation. Compare that to other international oil firms where Nigerians occupy roles such as managing directors, deputy managing directors, and general managers,” he said.
Osifo also alleged that expatriates in Sterling Oil were performing tasks Nigerians could handle. He also claimed expatriates were employed in menial roles such as gatekeeping, vulcanising, and even preparing meals for staff.
The union leader then declared that the current picketing of Sterling Oil’s office was only the beginning. He warned that there would be a national industrial action if the issues were not resolved promptly. “This injustice could lead to a nationwide shutdown of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, as our members are the backbone of operations in this sector. The time for action is now. The failure to address these issues will result in grounded operations across the industry,” he said.
In response to the protest, Sterling Oil’s management issued a statement stating that all employees have been directed to work from home pending the resolution of the matter. The company assured stakeholders that it would address the issues raised by PENGASSAN as soon as possible.