Labour unions in the oil and gas sector have directed their members in Chevron Nigeria Limited to commence a total shut down of the company’s operations following the sack of 600 Nigerian employees and other anti-Labour practices by the management of the company.
The Unions, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and the Petroelum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) gave the directive in a joint statement signed by their Presidents, Mr. Williams Akporeha and Mr. Festus Osifo respectively.
The statementread on part: “We have directed our members in Chevron to withdraw their services.
“We also call on the Federal Government to call Chevron Management to order, otherwise we can no longer guarantee industrial peace in the oil and gas sector.
“Here is our fatherland and we have a labour law that regulates the activities of organisations in Nigeria; this law cannot be breached; We must follow the process.”
The union leaders alleged that Chevron management on Independence Day, notified about 2,000 of its employees that their services were no longer required.
According to the leaders, the Chevron management has also asked those employees who were still interested in working with them to apply afresh.
“This development runs contrary to Nigeria’s laws regulating the Oil and Gas industry as it does not protect our national interest.
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“This is an imperialist agenda that must not be allowed to stay; most especially as we have just finished celebrating our 60th independence as a sovereign country,” they said.
Recall that Chevron in a statement by its General Manager Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn, has last week said it would lay of 25% of staff as part of efforts to reposition the company for greater and better services.
Brikinn said: “Making changes to the organisation is never easy for anyone that will be impacted, but it is to improve our ability to remain competitive in Nigeria.”
He talked about reducing the company’s cost of doing business and improving the efficiency of its operations.