Chevron Denies Sack Of 1,000 Workers

Chevron Nigeria Limited  has denied it is about to sack an additional 1,000 of its contract workers barely one week after it sacked over 400 casual workers at its Escravos Tank Farm in Warri, Delta State, southsouth Nigeria.

P.M.NEWS gathered that the 1,000 casual workers may be relieved of their jobs in September.

A contract worker in the company told P.M.NEWS that the planned sack may not be unconnected with the recent decision by the casual workers to join NUPENG to challenge Chevron over their condition of service.

Most of the contract workers, according to the source, have been in the service of Chevron for over twelve years and the company insists on the workers signing an undertaking as a condition for their re-engagement as casual workers every year.

When P.M.NEWS contacted Sola  Adebawo, Manager Communications Policy, Government & Public Affairs Chevron Nigeria – Mid Africa Strategic Business Unit, he denied that the company was planning to sack some of its contract staff.

According to him, “Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) is not laying off 1,000 contract workers. This information is wrong. The contracts with the employers of the contract workers is ending. When they end, new contracts will be put in place and many of the workers are likely to be transitioned into the new contracts. Contracts are being let pursuant to NAPIMS normal processes.

“As a law abiding company, CNL will comply with all relevant laws. The company wishes to state that the safety and security of its workforce, employees and contractors alike, remain its highest priority.”

P.M.NEWS learnt that past attempts by NUPENG to resolve issues between the workers and Chevron were unsuccessful as both parties could not reach a compromise.

Some of the workers have already filed a suit against the company before the National Industrial Court praying the court to compel Chevron to regularise their terms of employment and pay all their accruing benefits.  The matter is still pending in court.

—Henry Ojelu