PENGASSAN threatens nationwide strike over 10,699 Indian expatriates
…Bemoans Obasanjo over minimum wage comments
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has warned of an imminent nationwide strike if the federal government fails to remove 10,699 Indian expatriates employed by Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) across 15 locations in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The association also criticised former President Olusegun Obasanjo for referring to the current minimum wage as a living wage, arguing that his administration failed to implement necessary wage adjustments during his tenure.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, PENGASSAN’s President, Comrade Festus Osifo, questioned why Obasanjo, who led the country for eight years without reviewing the minimum wage, now has the moral standing to criticise the present situation.
He recalled that during Obasanjo’s administration, Nigeria’s debt was forgiven, yet the government failed to improve workers’ wages. In contrast, the current government, despite its financial burdens, has undertaken a minimum wage review.
Osifo also condemned the Ministry of Interior for allegedly colluding with other government officials to grant SEEPCO an unjustified expatriate quota, which he claimed has resulted in foreign workers occupying positions that should be filled by Nigerians.
PENGASSAN vowed to shut down SEEPCO’s operations if the government fails to take decisive action.
“We will engage all relevant stakeholders, but if the government refuses to act, those plants will be shut down. A nationwide strike will be declared. If we withdraw our members, the entire upstream sector will come to a standstill,” Osifo warned.
He further revealed that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has already been informed of the situation, leading to operational disruptions at SEEPCO’s jetties, where expatriates hold key positions.
“As we speak, their operations have already been restricted. They cannot proceed with lifting activities,” he stated.
Osifo explained that the association has consistently observed SEEPCO’s disregard for Nigerian labour laws by bringing in foreign workers for middle- and low-level jobs, which qualified Nigerians, could perform.
He revealed that in January, PENGASSAN’s National Executive Council resolved to take all necessary measures to ensure SEEPCO complies with Nigerian laws and regulations.
“All we are demanding is fairness. If international oil companies (IOCs) and indigenous producers adhere to our laws, SEEPCO should not be an exception.
SEEPCO cannot be above the law. The company’s management must recognise that it is operating in Nigeria and must respect our labour policies,” Osifo asserted.
He further alleged that over 10,000 Indian workers are currently employed by SEEPCO, occupying positions that could have been filled by Nigerians.
“These are roles that Nigerians should be occupying. Instead, we have thousands of unemployed Nigerians while foreign workers take up these jobs,” he lamented.
PENGASSAN also took issue with former President Obasanjo’s recent remarks on minimum wage, arguing that his administration failed to implement meaningful wage increases.
Osifo noted that during Obasanjo’s tenure (1999–2007), the minimum wage was stagnant for seven years.
“In 1999, the minimum wage was ¦ 3,500, and in 2000, it increased to ¦ 5,500. However, for the next seven years, there was no review. When he left office, the wage remained at ¦ 5,500, despite Nigeria being debt-free at the time,” he said.
Osifo contrasted this with the current administration, which has reviewed the minimum wage despite the country’s heavy debt obligations.
Providing further analysis, Osifo highlighted the impact of inflation on wage values.
“If we take the minimum wage of ¦ 30,000 established in 2019 and adjust it for inflation, the equivalent wage in 2024 should be around ¦ 74,000.
However, during Obasanjo’s tenure, even when the exchange rate was ¦ 45 per dollar, he refused to adjust wages, despite Nigeria having more financial flexibility due to debt relief,” he pointed out.
He accused Obasanjo of hypocrisy, saying: “When leaders leave office, they suddenly become righteous and start offering advice they never followed while in power.
We have seen former governors who failed to implement meaningful policies during their tenure, yet now they appear on television, giving economic advice to their successors.”
Osifo urged current and former leaders to take responsibility for their actions while in office rather than criticising from the sidelines.
He recalled an instance where a former governor advised his state to focus on agriculture and develop cash crop exports—a strategy he failed to implement during his eight years in power.
“I listened to this ex-governor make lofty recommendations and wondered—why didn’t he execute these ideas when he had the opportunity?” Osifo remarked.
PENGASSAN’s stance underscores growing frustration over foreign employment quotas and stagnant wages in Nigeria. The association has made it clear that unless decisive action is taken, it is prepared to mobilise a nationwide strike that could cripple the oil and gas industry.
The coming weeks will reveal whether the federal government will address these concerns or face a major industrial crisis.
