PRESS STATEMENT

The leadership of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) with deep frustration and worries would like to alert the general public and all relevant authorities of the blatant violation of agreement reached between Chevron Nigeria Limited Company and the Unions in the industry.

It is a public knowledge that the Unions in the Oil and Gas Industry had a protracted negotiation with Chevron Nigeria Limited over 70% Labour manpower reduction which they (Chevron) claimed was required in view of “so called” reductions in their operations in the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry.

The Unions in the Industry vehemently opposed this unpatriotic and inhumane move in view of the avowed commitment of the Unions to the protection of jobs of our members and considering the high level of unemployment in the Country which is directly responsible for the heightened insecurity and tensed situation in the Country

After up to one year negotiation brokered by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS)  and even Ministry of Labour,

Unfortunately, immediately after the agreement was reached, Chevron started executing the exercise in blatant violation of the agreed terms ostensibly to either put NUPENG in bad light as troublesome or for extinction because only NUPENG members have been exited from work leaving behind the Non- Unionised workers and PENGASSAN members.

It is further embarrassing to see that NUPENG executives are also part of those already locked out.

From our record, over 500 of NUPENG members are being exited.

We further learnt that the intention of Chevron is to change the contract to short term service contract and we see this as unfair and breach of agreement reached with us in bad faith.

For clarity, here are our demands from the management of Chevron:

1. All NUPENG executives should be called back to work
2. The percentage of reduction agreed should be spread to the three groups as agreed to avoid creating the impression that NUPENG was the target of the exercise. The good disposition of the new leadership of the NUPENG should not be taken for granted.
3. Chevron should not be allowed to use this exercise to change the Labour Manpower contract to service contract in a disguised manner.

ULTIMATUM

Consequent on the above demand and having been pushed to the wall, NUPENG hereby puts all our members on red alert should Chevron Nigeria Limited and its Contractors fail to honour or comply with our demands within the next seven (7) days, we would also not hesitate to take all necessary legal options available to us; including industrial actions to press home our legitimate demands.

SIGNED:

COMRADE WILLIAMS AKPOREHA

NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF NUPENG

COMRADE AFOLABI OLAWALE.

GENERAL SECRETARY OF NUPENG