Egbema, Gbaramatu graduates, accuse management of Chevron of seizing their job opportunities

The graduate body of Egbema and Gbaramatu youths, under the auspices of Kokodiagbene, Ogbudugbudu, Makaraba, Benikrukru, Okoyitoru and Tsekelewu, KOMBOT, on Monday December 6, staged a peaceful protest at the gate of Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL in Warri, Delta State, accusing management of the oil and gas major of seizing job opportunities meant for them.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as: "Chevron give us our required employment”, “Chevron must comply with the Local Content Act # Employ 200+EGG now”, “Chevron is robbing us of employment 200+EGG now”, “We are graduates, give us what is due to us, stop marginalizing us”, “Chevron give us the employment you promised us since 1999”, “Chevron must reinstate Comr. Timmy Okirika” and “Chevron must respect the Ministry of Labour on the #Reinstatement#."

Some of the protesters, at the gate of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Warri

President of KOMBOT, Comrade Olaye Tare, who spoke exclusively to Fresh Angle International, during the peaceful protest, averred: "We are claiming our job opportunities, seized by Chevron Nigeria Limited that is why we are having this peaceful protest."

Comrade Tare, noted: "Far back 1998, there was a communique between Chevron and our people that 20 graduates should be employed in the system and from then till now, we have over 200 graduates, yet to be employed, so we felt, we should have a round table discussion with Chevron, because we wrote series of letters, but no response".

He added that they are expecting a roundtable discussion, where they will be interviewed as well as summit their CV. 

Comrade Olaye Tare (clad in burnt orange) in-company of other protesters 

"You cannot be working in our region, yet the people are not employed, because before now they said Ijaws don't have graduates, but now we have graduates all over, still Chevron keeps shifting the bars to the detriment of the Egbema and Gbaramatu graduates.

“The Area Manager of Chevron, Mr. Sam Diabo, is the only person we want to talk to. We are not leaving here, until he (Sam Diabo) addresses us", Tare stressed. 

He said if the management of Chevron fails to address their plan A, which is the protest, they will switch to plan B.

Comr. Tare, enthused: "Chevron is supposed to employ indigenes and one ugly issue, is that Chevron refused to allow one of our own, Comrade Timmy Okirika, who was working as Assistant Financial Secretary, to retire and was removed from office, without due process. The Ministry of Labour asked Chevron to reinstate him, but they refused."

The Policy, Government and Public Affairs, PGPA Rep of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. John Awe, who addressed the protesters on behalf Mr. Sam Diabo, promised that a tripartite meeting between officials of the company, the leadership of EGCDF and KOMBOT, would be convened to address the issue next week Wednesday, December 15.

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