Graduates of the Itsekiri nationality, under the aegis of the National Association of Itsekiri Graduates (NAIG), have threatened to shut down Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) for allegedly secretly employing about 300 persons against extant laws.

The graduates said the action was in disregard to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010 and, therefore, threatened to shut down the company if those mobilised for the perceived vacancies are not Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje.

The apex graduates’ body, in an electronic statement released on Monday April 8, demanded that those purportedly engaged recently by CNL be demobilised and sent back immediately, while Itsekiris are called up to occupy at least 60 percent of the alleged vacancies.

The statement by NAIG was signed by the association’s president and secretary, Messrs Ben Eyitemi Eburajolo and President Mino Esiategiwa respectively.

“Our attention has been drawn to the current recruitment being done by Chevron Nigeria Limited where about 300 persons have either being called for medical or mobilised to resume work at various locations nationwide.

“It is disheartening to know that Chevron Nigeria Limited, operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) JV in OML 49, OML 90, OML 95, EGTL, Chevron Tank Farm, Agbami, Sonam, among others, conducted such a large scale recruitment, without publishing it in any national dailies or on their official website nor through a third party.

“National Association of Itsekiri Graduates (NAIG) discovered from our investigation that several of these new intakes, have resumed in various locations while others will resume this week.

“We find it provocative that Chevron has decided to undermine not just the Itsékiri nation, but conducted this recruitment in flagrant disregard to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010.

“This employment was conducted in secrecy, without given opportunity of participation to eligible Itsekiri graduates only shows that Chevron has declared war on the Itsekiri Nation and as such should leave our land immediately else we cannot guarantee the safety of their operations in our land any longer, unless all those mobilised to resume in all locations listed above that are not from any of the host ethnic nationalities (Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje) are demobilised and sent immediately while Itsekiris are called up to occupy at least 60% of the vacancy available, without undergoing any aptitude test or interview as already done by Chevron to those whom they are to replace.

“We wish to emphasise that CNL had been marginalising the Itsekiri Nation for over 30 years since it acquired Gulf assets and expanded its operations in our land, not only in terms of employment and human capacity building, but also in terms of corporate social responsibilities (CSR) as there is no medical centre/hospital built and equipped in any of the Itsekiri host communities, no electricity, potable water, among others.

“We are using this opportunity to inform President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) NNPCL that should Chevron refuse to heed our call, we will have no other option than to do everything within the law to ensure our demands are met even If it will affect Nigeria’s current oil production.”

NAIG insisted that whatever means CNL, including Project Bella, are proposing to convert contract employees to staff, Itsekiri should be considered first.

As of the time of filing the report, officials of CNL were yet to respond to the alleged development. (Nigerian Tribune)

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