…accuses Wabote, former NCDMB boss, Ngige of enabling SEEPCO’s labour violations
“10,000 job openings await Nigerians if expatriate quota at SEEPCO abuse ends”- PENGASSAN President assures FG
Oredola Adeola
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has intensified its industrial action against Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Co. Ltd, barricading the company’s headquarters in Lagos, over alleged anti-labour practices, discrimination against Nigerian workers, and violations of expatriate quota regulations.
On the second day of the protest, a massive turnout of PENGASSAN members from across the country joined in solidarity, demanding reforms in the company’s treatment of Nigerian employees.
The demonstrators, who mobilized early Wednesday morning, carried placards with messages such as “Stop Victimisation of Nigerians,” “End Unsafe Work Conditions,” “Sterling Flouts Nigerian Laws and Regulations,” and “Sandeep is a Racist, He Must Go.” Another banner accused the company of exceeding approved drilling limits, stating: “Sterling Obtains Permission for Two Oil Wells but Ends Up Drilling Four or Five.”
Comrade Festus Osifo,the National President of PENGASSAN, commenting on the second day of the protest in Lagos, revealed that there are already 10,000 job opportunities ready to be filled in Sterling Oil, and the government must partner with us to ensure that this happens.
According to him, if expatriates leave, over 10,000 Nigerians will step in within the next 10 months.
The President said, “After the Tuesday protest, the management of Sterling called us to a meeting at Eko Hotels & Suites.
“However, we informed them that PENGASSAN members are men of integrity. Any meeting that must be held must take place in broad daylight, with the Chief Executive of NUPRC and the Executive Secretary of NCDMB in attendance—not just commissioners of these agencies. This is a must because these are very serious issues.”
“Since yesterday, we have withdrawn all our members from NUPRC loading terminals, effectively halting the loading of crude oil at the Sterling facility.”
“On Tuesday night, when Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive of NUPRC, reached out to me, pleading for de-escalation of our industrial action to pave the way for a meeting next week, we insisted that loading would not resume until the meeting was held.”
“For us, the KPIs are very clear. When we attend the meeting, we will demand to know the number of Nigerians employed as panel operators.
“How many Nigerians are in their operations compared to the number of Indians on their employment list? We will also present the employment quota template we have from all the IOCs, including TotalEnergies, Chevron, and others.”
“We are insisting that if these companies have no single expatriate as panel operators, then the Indians currently working in Sterling’s operations should be demobilized immediately.
“Panel operations in the oil and gas business are not rocket science. We are not in the 1950s when Nigerians lacked the expertise and knowledge to take the lead. Today, if Nigerians are leading in other companies, we can also lead in Sterling Oil.”
“It is shocking that in this company, expatriates and Nigerians do not even use the same canteen. It is unfortunate that we still have apartheid in Nigeria in 2025. The company does not value Nigerians, whereas this is not the case in IOCs.”
Comrade Osifo further revealed that the SEEPCO has created multiple entities through which it brings in expatriates, adding that they have also boasted that they have Nigerian institutions in their pocket.
He said, “We had raised these anomalies with the former Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote, but he failed to act. Sterling had an accomplice in the former Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, under whose authority they had their way.”
“We have drawn the attention of the entire country to this. We don’t mince words. We would have embarked on this strike long ago, but due to political influence frustrating our agitations, we had to slow down.”
“Sterling Oil’s head office is filled with thousands of Indians. They occupy key positions in Nigeria while Nigerians remain sidelined. The company employs fewer than 100 Nigerians, while there are over 9,900 Indians.
“They introduced a ‘manpower contract’ to prevent employees from forming or joining a union. They were told they do not have the right to join PENGASSAN or any labour union. This is unacceptable.”
“This is against our laws. The Trade Union Act and labour laws guarantee the right to unionism. No category of employees should be denied this right. For us, this is non-negotiable.”
“Our KPIs include reducing the number of Indians in SEEPCO to match the expatriate ratio in the IOCs,” Osifo warned.
He has emphasised that the union members will not back down from this fight until they see a clear action plan for how those foreign workers will be replaced.
He said, “We are in Lagos for awareness, but the main protest is happening across field locations. If the Indian expatriates are not sent back to their countries and the government agencies fail to fulfill their responsibilities—something we have communicated to the Chief Executive of NUPRC—this could escalate into a national industrial action.”
“The government, whose responsibility is to protect its citizens and create jobs, should be supporting our actions.
“If approximately 10,000 Indians are sent out of Nigeria, Nigerians will fill those positions immediately. This will provide 10,000 jobs, far more than the 774 jobs recently commissioned by the Federal Government for a specific task.”
“We already have 10,000 job opportunities ready to be filled in Sterling Oil, and the government must partner with us to ensure that this happens. If expatriates leave, over 10,000 Nigerians will step in within the next 10 months.
“We cannot be deceived into believing otherwise. Panel operations are not complex. If Nigerians are successfully managing operations in ExxonMobil’s fields, TotalEnergies’ Egina, Shell’s Bonga, and Chevron’s Agbami, then they can do even better in Sterling Oil.”
“If there is no clear action plan to replace these expatriates with Nigerians, this struggle will continue. Our 18 members who were unjustly terminated in 2018 must be reinstated with full benefits.”
“The company must also provide a concrete plan for improving the welfare of our members and allow the manpower contract workers to unionize. If not, this struggle will not stop. We are ready to fight today to secure a better future.”
“We will not meet with Sterling Oil’s management anywhere except in the presence of regulators. The head of communication in Sterling Oil is an Indian, whereas in other IOCs, Nigerians occupy this role.
“Why is Sterling Oil different? The previous Indian head of communication was replaced a year ago with another Indian, for a job that Nigerians can do. We will not accept this.”
“Sterling Oil previously had its way because of its ties with the immediate past Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, who consistently approved their requests and ignored memos that challenged their actions.”
“We believe in the present leadership of the Ministry of Labour. We trust them to seize this opportunity to send 10,000 Indians packing and replace them with Nigerians. We are giving the Director of Trade Union Services and the two Ministers the benefit of the doubt.”
“Currently, Sterling Oil produces about 80,000 barrels per day and has operations across Nigeria. The high number of Indian expatriates is because they are employed in roles that Nigerians can easily handle, including vulcanizing, welding, cooking, and gardening.”
“NUPRC has called for a meeting next week, and we hope it will be fruitful. However, if the regulator is compromised, we will continue our protest.
“If we do not get a solution from the regulators, and it is proven that our government agencies have been compromised—as claimed by Sterling Oil’s management—PENGASSAN will have no choice but to embark on a nationwide strike.”
“How can anyone justify keeping Indian panel operators in these roles? We have ways to hold everyone accountable. We are not afraid of industrial court injunctions. The Nigerian constitution grants us the right to protest.”
“We have engaged Engr. Simbi Wabote, the former Executive Secretary of NCDMB, but he failed to respond. Beyond labor laws, Sterling Oil has also been circumventing the system. Our members have gathered evidence that while the company is granted permission to drill two oil wells, it ends up drilling five, among other sharp practices,” Osifo stated.
Comrade Kingsley Udoidua, PENGASSAN’s National Public Relations Officer, on his part, dismissed the presence of security forces such as the military and DSS at the protest sites, stating that PENGASSAN remains undeterred by external pressures.
He reaffirmed the union’s history of resistance against oppression, including during Nigeria’s military era.
“We are not intimidated by the military, DSS, or foreign imperialists attempting to recolonize us through Sterling Oil. Nigerian workers are the backbone of this company, and PENGASSAN, as a recognized labour association, is saying enough is enough,” Udoidua declared.
He described the ongoing demonstration as a warning protest, cautioning that if Sterling Oil remains defiant, PENGASSAN will escalate its actions, including pushing for the company’s expulsion from Nigeria.
He further alleged that certain corrupt individuals in government were receiving bribes from Indian expatriates to overlook labour violations.
“We will expose any Indians bribing corrupt government officials because PENGASSAN cannot be bought. Sterling Oil must respect our laws and regulations. Nigerians are fully capable of managing all critical operations within the oil and gas sector,” he stated.
Udoidua warned that failure to comply could lead to the revocation of Sterling Oil’s operational licenses. “We will not relent until their activities are halted. If necessary, we will cripple the operations of this country’s oil sector because of Sterling’s actions,” he emphasized.
He also urged political officeholders allegedly complicit in the situation to reconsider their stance and compel Sterling Oil to adhere to Nigerian laws.
“This is not just about workers’ rights; it is a fight against tyranny and the erosion of Nigeria’s sovereignty. Other nations are prioritizing nationalization of resources, and we will not allow Sterling to dictate terms in our country. If they believe they are above the law, we will ensure they face the full consequences of their actions,” he warned.
Olutayo Akande, Zonal Industrial Relations Officer (IRO) in Port Harcourt, emphasized that the protest is not just about the present but also about securing the future of Nigerian workers.
He noted growing concerns over indiscriminate attacks against Nigerian workers and alleged systemic discrimination within the oil and gas sector.
Akande referenced public records indicating that the Sandesaras brothers, who own Sterling Oil and several other registered businesses in Nigeria, left India some years ago amid financial scandals.
Reports suggest they defrauded Indian public banks of over $1.7 billion. Despite only securing two onshore oil exploration licenses in the Niger Delta, the company has since shifted its operations to Lagos.
According to Akande, the Indian government has requested their extradition to face charges in their home country.
“If these allegations are false, they should prove their innocence by returning to India even for a holiday,” Zonal Industrial Relations Officer (IRO) in Port Harcourt dared the management of SEEPCO.
He further stressed that the fight against expatriate quota violations and unfair labor practices must continue until justice is served. “This struggle is one that Nigerians must win. We must not grow weary,” he declared.
