By Samuel Ogude
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, said the Committee would always support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s First Nigerian Policy which was announced recently.
Senator Joel-Onowakpo made this known in his address presented at the 14th Annual Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Forum, held yesterday (02-12-25) in Yenagoa. Bayelsa State, saying, the theme of this year’s gathering “Securing Investments, Strengthening Local Content, and Scaling Energy Production” could not have come at a more critical time.
According to Joel-Onowakpo, the Committee is also in support of President Tinubu’s drive to the empower Nigerian workers, the expansion of decent job opportunities, and the localisation of economic benefits across the oil and gas, science, engineering,and broader industrial sectors. He explained, as a legislative oversight body driving compliance with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, Executive Order No. 5 and the Nigerian First Policy, they would intensify efforts to ensure that Nigerians are key players and beneficiaries in their own economy, saying, the Renewed Hope Agenda of President is based on the Nigerian’s welfare.
According Joel-Onowakpo the Committee would work hard to create an enabling environment that fosters the growth of businesses, promote job creation and develop critical assets and skills saying, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) plays a vital role in achieving the intent of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010 as it is stipulated Order 96 of the Senate Standing Orders (20230).
His words:” It is a privilege to join you at this year’s Practical Nigerian Content Forum, a gathering that has matured into the central marketplace for ideas, collaboration, and accountability in the Local Content ecosystem. I thank the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board for sustaining this platform and for inviting stakeholders to deepen a dialogue that is essential to our nation’s industrial future.
“I am very happy because this year’s discourse intends to address the gap in local content development in Nigeria but sadly, that after 65years of the discovery and exploration of crude oil in Nigeria and after the enactment of the NOGICD act in 2010, we are still way behind.” Senator Joel-Onowakpo said, the NOGICD Act of 2010, one of the most transformative laws for economic nationalism, aims to ensure that Nigerians are prioritized in employment, procurement, and service delivery, stressing that, Sections 28 to 37 of the Act mandates operators to submit and implement employment and training plans that ensure Nigerian nationals occupy roles across all levels—junior, intermediate, and management.
The federal law maker said, one of the most abused areas of compliance has been Human Capital Development (HCD) saying, the NOGICD Act mandates that 1%–3% of the value of every oil and gas project above $1 million must be dedicated to capacity development for Nigerians. He said, this provision is neither decorative, aspirational nor voluntary saying, this is how nations build the engineering, fabrication, welding, geological, and high-technology expertise needed for the future.
Senator Joel-Onowakpo was not happy with the recruitment of an expatriate as director of procurement, a position previously occupied by Nigerian in Chevron Nigerian Limited, just as he lamented Sahara Group’s refusal to comply with the law by remitting the 1% for the Human Capital Development of local capacity.
On workers’ welfare, skills, and sustainable livelihoods, the federal law maker said, the Committee’s commitment is not limited to employment numbers but is equally interested in improving the welfare, workplace safety, and long-term career viability of Nigerian workers. His words:” Sections 35 to 39 of the NOGICD Act mandates operators to invest in training, research, and human capital development. These provisions are not ornamental—they are actionable legal standards.
“All operators… shall employ only Nigerians in their junior and intermediate cadre…” (Section 35). An operator shall carry out a programme and make expenditure… for the promotion of education, attachments, training, research and development in Nigeria…” (Section 37)
“Over the past months, the Senate Committee on Local Content has taken decisive action. We have written to operators — IOCs and other oil and gas companies and the NCDMB — demanding full disclosure and submission of critical information and documents. Where there are gaps, inconsistencies, or red flags, we will summon operators and regulators. Where investigative hearings are necessary, we will conduct them.
“Work has commenced — and let me assure you — we will not let up. We are also collaborating with Nigeria Labour Congress to address these abuses and shame companies which are willfully undermining and shortchanging Nigerian citizens from benefiting from the intent of all the laws and Presidential Executive Orders,”