The headquarters of Sterling Oil in Lagos was a scene of protest on Tuesday, as PENGASSAN shut down operations over alleged anti-labour practices.
By dawn, union members had gathered at the company’s entrance, chanting solidarity songs and holding placards demanding fair treatment.
PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, directly accused the company of abusing the expatriate quota system. He says the company’s management had deliberately sidelined qualified Nigerians in favour of Indian nationals.
“Nigerians have lost their rightful place in the company,” he said.
“Let Sterling Oil reveal how many Nigerians hold managerial positions today.”
Over 10,000 Expatriates In Local Jobs
Furthermore, Osifo highlighted that the company had employed over 10,000 Indian expatriates in roles that Nigerians could easily fill, including gatekeepers, vulcanisers, and even tea makers.
“This is unacceptable,” he declared.
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“If the management refuses to change its practices, we will mobilise and shut down the entire oil and gas industry. The government must act now.”
Unfair Dismissal
Additionally, the union insisted that Sterling Oil had unfairly dismissed several workers for speaking out against its policies and demanded their immediate reinstatement.
In response, the company issued a brief statement, instructing employees to work from home while it worked towards resolving the issue.
However, for PENGASSAN, this protest is just the beginning.
If the company failed to meet their demands, the union vowed to take further action, potentially leading to a nationwide shutdown of the oil and gas sector.
