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 Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria
(PENGASSAN) gave the directive in a joint statement on Sunday.
NUPENG’S President, Mr. Williams Akporeha, and the President, PENGASSAN,
Mr. Festus Osifo, said: “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 duo alleged that Chevron management on Independence Day notified
about 2,000 of its employees that their services were no longer
required.
Both leaders also alleged that Chevron management had 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.
“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,” the duo said.
Earlier in a statement, Chevron’s General Manager Policy, Government and
Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn, said the welfare and safety of its
workforce was one of its highest priorities.
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.
“Reducing the cost and improving the efficiency of our operations are
critical to generating more revenues for the Federal Government of
Nigeria,” he said.