The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board, Engr. Ernest Nwapa has charged leaders of the two apex unions in the petroleum sector: Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to rise above their traditional concerns and support the implementation of the Local Content Act, which according to him will help create and secure jobs.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board, Engr. Ernest Nwapa has charged leaders of the two apex unions in the petroleum sector: Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to rise above their traditional concerns and support the implementation of the Local Content Act, which according to him will help create and secure jobs.
Nwapa also called on the two house union leadership to always insist that their management should comply with provisions of the Nigerian Content Act and encourage the establishment and patronage of facilities in Nigeria.
Engr Nwapa who was speaking with the leadership of the union last week in Abuja also said that major projects to be executed henceforth in the Oil and Gas industry must leave behind legacies in facilities and infrastructure that will employ Nigerians and support the life cycle of the project.
On the role of the unions in the implementation of Nigerian Content Act, Nwapa explained that provisions of the Act promoted the goals and aspirations of labour, some of which include improvement in welfare of members, training opportunities, creation and retention of jobs and ensuring career growth.
He told the union leaders that structured implementation strategies adopted by the Board focused on creating facilities where industry work can be performed in-country, spend retained and jobs created for Nigerians.
The Executive Secretary maintained that this strategy also creates productive employment, which he described as more critical to national development as against social employment, whereby companies and some government agencies are forced to employ workers they do not need.
These facilities used in executing industry work in-country, he further stated, will also provide locations for practical on the job training for professionals and vocational skills development.
He explained that most operating companies did not have capacity to employ many people, having outsourced most of their primary activities to service providers who can now employ large numbers of staff if patronized.
Nwapa also said that the Board’s Equipment Components Manufacturing Strategy seeks to promote local manufacture and assembly of equipment and systems required for Oil and Gas industry, including parts and components.
The strategy will also help to create employment opportunities for Nigerians in the industry by insisting that Manufacturers of Equipment used in the industry begin local manufacture of some components, thereby ensuring that substantial value of oil industry work is domiciled and spend is retained in-country, he said.
In his comments, President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Babatunde Ogun commended the Board for the strides it had made in the implementation of the Act
Also speaking, Secretary General of PENGASSAN, Comrade Bayo Olowoshile charged the Board to be steadfast in the enforcement of its expatriate quota guidelines and to compel companies operating in the Onne Free Trade Zone to abide with the extant labour laws.
He also requested the Board to involve the unions in the implementation of the Act and when engaging stakeholders with respect to regulations that border on the industry.
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