Oil workers want Chevron to halt labour contract guidelines review

The national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) has urged Chevron Nigeria Limited not to circumvent the its labour contract guidelines.

The unions, in a joint statement signed by PENGASSAN General Secretary, Mr. Lumumba Okugbawa, and NUPENG General Secretary, Mr. Adamu Song, said they were worried and concerned with the way and manner Chevron’s management was executing the end of M-15 and H-15 contracts, which they said was ostensibly laced with hidden plans and intention to unilaterally sack thousands of contract workers despite the ongoing intervention by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, as well as the established Labour Contract Staffing Guidelines in the oil and gas industry.

“While Chevron had decided to close M-15 and H-15 contracts by October 31, 2018, it is really disturbing to see the new contractors being engaged by Chevron’s management and whose labour contract will take effect on November 1, 2018, to start advertising all jobs despite clear provision for “roll over” of the existing workers on the jobs, consequent upon which a large number of the current workforce are most likely to be abruptly thrown into the labour market in their own country,” they said.

The unions described the arrangement as cruel, callous and an affront on the Nigerian constituted authority and industry extant rules.

They further said, “We are deeply bothered by the purported claims being peddled around by Chevron’s management that their action of sacking Nigerian workers is a directive from the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) and the Nigerian Content Monitoring and Development Board (NCMDB). We then begin to wonder if the role of these reputable government agencies is to create jobs for Nigerians or to compound unemployment situation as already prevalent in the country.”

In its response, through a statement from its General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Mr. Esimaje Brikinn, Chevron said the expiring contracts were being replaced with new manpower service contracts which had been awarded in accordance with the open tender process conducted by the NNPC/CNL Joint Venture in accordance with its standard procedures, the requirements of NAPIMS, a subsidiary of NNPC, and requirements of NCDMB.

Mr. Brikinn said, “Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the NNPC/CNL Joint Venture, confirms that the existing contracts of all its manpower services providers will expire by end of October, 2018, and is already executing the contracts with the successful contractors.”