UGA to shut-down Operations of Chevron over perceived neglect of its members

Graduates from Ugborodo Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, under the auspices of Ugborodo Graduates Association, UGA, have threatened to shut-down operations of Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL in Escravos Tank farm, EGTL and other facilities of the oil and gas major, within their community.

President of UGA, Pastor Clifford Monday Oritsetsegbemi, who made the disclosure in Warri, Delta State, Wednesday May 8, while speaking with newsmen, lamented what he described as “the lackadaisical and worrisome attitude of Chevron Nigeria Limited, as regards the alarming unemployment of graduates in Ugborodo community.”

 He said: "Chevron's continued secret employment of graduates into CNL, without considering graduates from Ugborodo, their host community, is unacceptable.

“The magnitude of joblessness and poverty amongst Ugborodo graduates, have reached a state of emergency and has created an obvious economic disequilibrium, where the goose that lays the golden eggs, suffers and it’s grossly marginalized.”

Pastor Oritsetsegbemi, added: “Ugborodo indigenes provide a peaceful and enabling environment for Chevron's operations to thrive, yet, we are denied the right of first choice to graduates’ employment. We still mourn the death of the once famous Eric Igban/Chevron Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) model for graduates employment, that would have secured our jobs and future in the scheme of things, with regard to Chevron operations in our land.

“Our graduates are very industrious with strong entrepreneurial spirit, yet, multinational company like Chevron Nigeria Limited, has blatantly refused to support them with programmes that can create SME financing and training for their overall self-reliance.

“As it stands, we say enough is enough and we are fully prepared and mobilizing our people for a complete shutdown of Chevron operations in our land”.

The Secretary of UGA, Mr. Ejeh David Oritsegbemi, who also addressed newsmen, added: “Chevron management is robbing Ugborodo Community and diverting host community graduates’ employment opportunities to their relations, friends and power that be. We cannot stand by and watch this injustice to continue.

“The executive and the entire members of the graduates’ association unanimously condemn Chevron Nigeria Limited, for denying employment opportunities to our graduates.”

The UGA leaders, said mobilization of Ugborodo graduates for the planned shutdown of Chevron’s operations in their community, “is gaining wide support”, saying they will not back down, except Chevron Nigeria Limited immediately correct the perceived anomalies.

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