The House of Representatives committee on local content has harped on the need for International Oil Companies (IOCs) to abide by the provisions of the Nigerian oil and gas content development act 2010 which requires foreign firms operating in the country to sufficiently engage Nigerians in their workforce.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Emmanuel Ekon who stated this at the weekend, lamented the worrisome rate at which IOCs in the country were short-changing Nigerians in employment thereby violating the act.
Ekon stressed that continuation of this trend by these companies would be an action “in gross violation of the Nigerian Oil and gas content development act 2010”.
“National Assembly will not fold its arms and watch the youths being denied the opportunity to be involved in the process of managing the oil and gas industry in the country,” he added.
The Akwa Ibom born lawmaker also informed that the committee discovered that some of the IOCs were brazenly bringing in foreigners to handle certain jobs particularly those which the act prescribed to be given to citizens.
He therefore, called on the companies to desist from this practice and carry out their businesses within the confines of the laws.