Ndidi Onuora
3 May 2005
Abuja — THE Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mr. Joseph Udeh, on Wednesday debunked allegations of issuance of work permits to unqualified expatriates in the oil and gas sector. Udeh spoke against the backdrop of the persistent allegation by some members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers that unqualified foreigners given temporary work permit by the Immigration Service were taking over jobs meant for qualified Nigerians.
The Immigration boss told journalists at a press conference in Abuja that temporary work permit is issued after thorough screening of the applicants.
He said: "We don't allow unqualified foreigners to come here and work. We make sure that we screen those we grant work permit. Only qualified hands are given permit to come and work here."
Udeh noted that there was no way the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria would allow unqualified hands into the sensitive oil industry.
He explained that even with thorough screening, work permit could only be given to foreigners in the areas the country lacked the required manpower.
Udeh, however, suggested that the Federal Government should, as a matter of deliberate policy, encourage major players in the oil and gas industry to establish training schools akin to the Petroleum Training Institute in Warri, Delta State.
"Let them have it as their own schools to develop these areas of deficiency in our labour market. There are specialised skills, like under water wielding, that they can help us develop locally so that we will be self sufficient in those areas," he said.
He said that there was no doubt those other countries that were in the oil and gas industry were fast developing capacities in specialised areas.
On the controversial postings he made, he explained that the exercise was carried out in the best interest of the Service.
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