They told us chevron is responsible for our entitlements, Plaintiff tells court

One of the 235 workers allegedly engaged by Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL and handed over to its contracting firms: Joceco Nigeria Limited, Pat Onosen Nigeria Enterprises Limited, Sanco Calaya J.V Nigeria Limited and Hensteel Engineering and Construction Services Limited, Mr. Patrick Gbetah has testified before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Awka, Anambra State, saying they were made to understand during their employment  that of the 15% which is their pension, 7.5% would be deducted from their salary, while the balance 7.5% will be contributed by Chevron Nigeria Limited, which is the 5^th Defendant in the N23.5 billion suit.

Our Oil and Gas Correspondent reports that Mr. Gbetah in his testimony before the Court Tuesday June 5, alleged that the Chevron contracting firms refused to contribute their 7.5% pension fund on the ground that CNL refused to remit money to them.

While acknowledging during cross examination that there was nothing like payment of redundancy in their employment letter, Mr. Gbetah stressed that the Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA supersedes letter of employment and quipped, “all we are claiming is in the CBA, which comprises of End of Contract, EOC, Redundancy and Pensions”.

The Presiding Judge, Justice J.I Targama after listening to counsel of the Plaintiffs, Chief V.E Otomiewo who tendered 15 documents and two newspaper publications, counsel to Chevron, Akpomudje SAN as well as request by Attorney to Pat Onosen Nigeria Enterprises Limited, who sought permission of the court to make photocopy of the documents, ruled that there is an order that every prolonged case should be given speedy hearing and as such any form of delay will not be granted.

Facts were revealed to the court during the cross examination of Mr. Patrick Gbetah by Counsel to Joceco Nigeria Limited that “of a truth, he (Mr. Gbetah ) and others were engaged by Joceco from 2005-2011 as welders, scafolders, sand blasters as well as filters and allegedly worked with Chevron’s facilities at the company’s (CNL) site.

The contract reportedly ended in 2011 and Joceco paid Mr. Gbetah and a couple of others involved End of Contract, EOC without redundancy, even as it was established before the court that Pat Onosen Nigeria Enterprises Limited, the 2^nd Defendant was just a paymaster like the other contracting firms.

Meanwhile, the court has adjourned to June 28 for continuation of hearing.

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