The expatriate biometric data capture being conducted by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board at its headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State is progressing steadily.The exercise which commenced on July 2, 2013 is geared to capture the biometric details of all expatriates working in the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry and is now a condition precedent for operating and service companies seeking to secure expatriate quota approvals from the Board.
The details are being uploaded on the electronic platform-Nigerian Content Joint Qualification System, (NOJICJQS) being operated by the Board.
So far, the records of 267 expatriates across Service Companies and Operators have been captured and several other companies have booked slots for the physical exercise.
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Ernest Nwapa had at the beginning of the exercise explained that it will help the Board evaluate the skills of the expatriates and confirm that such skills are not available locally in the industry.
It will also assist the Board to electronically track the numbers of expatriates in the industry, their length of stay, compliance with provided succession plans and expected date of exit.
At the completion of the biometric registration, each expatriate will get a unique card, which he or she will produce whenever the monitoring team from the Board come around for periodic verification.
Section 33 of the NOGICD Act mandates operators to apply and receive the approval of the Board before making any application for expatriate quota to the Ministry of Internal Affairs or any other agency of the Federal Government
Among other conditions, the Board requires companies seeking to get expatriate quota approvals for their operations in the oil and gas industry to first advertise the positions to Nigerians through national and international media outfits.
