The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and human resources managers of multi-national oil companies yesterday met to streamline guidelines for expatriate quota applications and deployment in the country’s oil and gas industry.
The meeting was to provide a forum for the managers to understand the guidelines by the Board for expatriate quota application, to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the Nigerian Content Act.
The meeting was also to shed some light on a section of the Act which gives the operator/project promoter room to retain a maximum of five percent of management positions, as may be approved by the Board, as expatriate positions to take care of investors’ interests.
Ernest Nwapa, the NCDMB executive secretary, told participants that the guidelines were applicable to both international operating companies and their service counterparts, warning that the Board would frown at a situation where the companies continue to use suppliers and contactors who flout these laws by bringing in expatriates without due approvals.
The Nigerian Content Act and guidelines hold operators responsible for the failure or otherwise of their contractors to comply, adding that the Board would not prequalify erring contractors and suppliers to continue providing services in the industry.
On the recent upsurge of labour agitations against the influx of expatriates into the industry, Mr. Nwapa assured that the implementation of the guidelines would address the concerns of the oil industry workers’ unions in a structured and sustained manner.
He added that the Board was working with the Ministry of Interior on expatriate quota management, manpower development initiatives, and creation of employment opportunities for Nigerians in the oil and gas industry.
Charity begins at home
He reminded Nigerians who hold senior positions in the oil and gas industry of their responsibility to support the Federal Government’s efforts at full implementation of the provisions of the Act.
The guidelines issued by NCDMB require that all companies applying for expatriate quotas must provide proof that the positions applied for have been advertised in at least four major Nigerian newspapers and two international newspapers, to establish that there is no qualified Nigerian that can do the job.
Besides, those companies are also required to notify the NCDMB of the receipt of applications, planned interview dates, and results of the interviews for each vacancy advertised, as well as proof that no qualified Nigerian had been found fit to occupy the positions.
Similar requirements are applicable on the extension of existing expatriate quotas operating companies in the industry.
Emmanuel Ihenacho, the Interior minister, had, during a meeting with the NCDMB Board last month, said the government would adopt strategies initiated on expatriate quota management.
At the end of the meeting, the NCDMB received assurances of the industry’s commitment to comply with the stipulated guidelines, while the managers pledged to study the provisions before coming up with strategies that would guarantee full compliance by all industry players.Source:http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Money/Finance/index.csp
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