THE Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, NDIMRC has given Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, a seven-day ultimatum to provide jobs for unemployed Ijaw graduates from Egbema and Gbaramatu Kingdoms in Warri North and Warri South-West local governments of Delta State or face disruption of its operations in the area.
The group threatened to disrupt the operations of Chevron if, before the expiration of the ultimatum, the oil giant still refuse to change its hard stance towards unemployed Ijaw graduates from the two oil producing kingdoms in Delta State.
In a press statement, signed by its President, Nelly Emma; Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer, Mukoro Stanley, they threw their total support behind the former students under the auspices of KOMBOT Employment Front that had earlier gave the company ultimatum on job opportunities.
According to the Niger Delta Group, Chevron had grossly marginalised Ijaw graduates from Egbema and Gbaramatu kingdoms in the area of employment.
The Group stated that the unemployed Ijaw graduates had attended different interviews organised by Chevron Nigeria Limited for employment, but were not considered, “Whereas their counterparts from the South-West and South-East were recruited and currently working with Chevron Nigeria Limited.”
The Group, therefore, demanded the employment of 39 Egbema-Gbaramatu applicants that were successful in the Ogere training programme and interview for the Project Operating Team, POT, for the Escravos-Gas-To-Liquid, EGTL, Project.
The Group while calling for the reinstatement of Ijaw indigenes that were sacked by Chevron in February 7th, 2011, vowed to join forces in the days ahead with KOMBOT Employment Front to disrupt the entire Chevron Nigeria Limited operations in Egbema and Gbaramatu territories.
The press statement reads in part; “We are very sad about the treatment of unemployed Ijaw graduates from Egbema and Gbaramatu Kingdoms by Chevron Nigeria Limited. We are aware that the company have been employing applicants from other parts of Nigeria, especially the Yoruba and Igbo extraction and instead of CNL employing successful Egbema and Gbaramatu kingdoms graduates, the company is busy depleting the numbers of those already in her employment by the indiscriminate sack of Niger Delta indigenes for labour related issues, which occurred 7th February, 2011. We are in total support of the earlier ultimatum given to the company by KOMBOT Employment Front. We are ready for a total show-down with Chevron Nigeria Limited in the days ahead. It is very sad that the company just refused to repent from violating the Local Content Act and as continued to frustrate unemployed Ijaw graduates, we want to state very clearly that this is unacceptable to us and therefore, we are calling on CNL to immediately address this matter,” the Group stated.
The group added, “We are urging the Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu and the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr. Ernest Nwapa to call the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited to order, otherwise the days ahead will not be too pleasant for the company and we are ready to join forces with KOMBOT Employment Front to cripple the operations of the company.”
The Group also warned the oil giant against blind folding the people with its existing Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU, with the Egbema/Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EGCDF, saying the company was still conniving with some selfish leaders to undermine the general interest of the people.
According to the Group; "The imposition of certain individuals on the communities by the company through its GMoU must stop. Before the GMoU, standard projects were executed in the two kingdoms, but the story is different today. Chevron has stopped embarking on capital projects and if it does at all, what we see are sub-standard projects and we hereby implore the company to suspend the GMoU forthwith and we will not hesitate to head to the Supreme Court if the company does not cancel the GMoU now. The GMoU is no longer serving the interest of the two kingdoms, but that of few selfish leaders and others in Chevron."
Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104
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