From Ndubuisi Orji and Kemi Yesufu, Abuja

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The House of Representatives has frowned at the violation of the Local Content Act by oil and gas companies.
perating in the country. The House said many companies in the Oil and Gas sector of the economy do not give full and fair opportunities to Nigerians.
Consequently, the House directed oil and gas companies applying for expatriate quota to first get approval from Nigeria Content Development Management Board (NCDMB) before forwading their application to the Ministry of Interior.
The Chairman,House Committee on Local Content, Hon Emmanuel Ekon gave the directive yesterday at a stakeholders meeting on expatriate quota for oil and gas companies in Nigeria organised by the committee.
He said the directive is imperative as a means of curbing  persistent violation of the Local Content Act in the oil and gas industry with respect to expatriate quota approval, noting that presently most companies do not have  expatriate quota approvals for expatriates working in the companies.
Ekon urged the Ministry of Interior and Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) to always demand a copy of the NCDMB’s approval before issuing or renewing expatriate quotas.
“Some of them have expatriates with no qualification or are not qualified to work in the industry. The provision for first consideration for employment and training is often ignored and many of them do not have offices in community of operations.Also training of Nigerians is very few as well as requirement for succession plan is often ignored,” he said.
Speaking at the stakeholders meeting, a member of the committee, Hon Nasir Ahmed (APC-Kano), said that compliance with the Local Content Act will help in curbing militancy in Niger Delta region.
According to him, the “reason for militancy in the region is because local content is not adhered to. Full compliance will help by 70 per cent to ensure militancy is contained.”
In his remark, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Ibe Kachikwu, who was present at the meeting said there’s need for increased sensitization and enforcement of the law.
The Minister said :  “There is need to ensure that the quality of people who are sent to occupy positions are qualified to justify their positions.”