Group threatens Chevron over employment of plant operators……vows not to accept “any training contract renewal

The National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG has threatened dire consequences if the Management of Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL does not halt the alleged “current employment of Plant Operators” purportedly recruited without informing the company’s host communities.

The apex Itsekiri graduates’ body in a statement made available to Fresh Angle International Tuesday January 2, claimed that “over 50 would-be operators were interviewed by Chevron Nigeria Limited during the week of November 6, 2017 to November 10, 2017 at Oakwood Hotel, Lekki and successful applicants have already done their medical with Chevron awaiting their resumption”.

The statement signed by CEO/President of NAIG, Collins Edema, averred that the recruitment process is “contrary to the GMoU and the Local Community Content guideline of Chevron”, stressing that Itsekiri is host to about 70% of CNL operation in Nigeria and “as such deserve employment based on production quantum”.

While noting also that most recently over 24 persons were recruited for Structural Engineering/Vessel Stencilin positions in Mechanical and Integrity Department in June 2017 “with nobody from the host communities employed”, NAIG added, “Chevron has conducted OPITO training programme for over 10 years for our graduates without an OPITO certificate given”.

The association claimed that the last set of the trainees, who are Itsekiris “have been under slave labour since March 2013 without their employment being regularized”.

NAIG vowed not to accept “any training contract renewal or casual labour contract for our VTP5/OTP2 and VTP6 Trainees”, warning, “our planned action of shutting down Chevron operation in Itsekiri land is still alive and will be activated once deem necessary”.