Chevron crisis deepens, as workers call for MD’s removal, facilities shut down

The Chevron branch of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has demanded the removal of the Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron, Mr Jeff Ewing. This call after they passed vote of no confidence on the board of the oil firm.

This call was made during another workers’ protest held at the company. Union members were also said to have protested in other Chevron facilities across the country.

Reasons explained: The workers gave reasons the CMD should be removed, stating that he lacked integrity and as such, he should not be assigned such sensitive or any other office. They expressed their lack of confidence without holding back.

In the same vein, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has stood its ground over its members that were sacked last year. The union vowed to shut down the facilities of Chevron in Warri, Delta State if the company refuses to reinstate the workers before the seven-day ultimatum elapses.

The ultimatum letter issued by NUPENG dated January 1, 2020, disclosed that Chevron had ordered the sacking of 32 workers through its contractor, Cordeau Nigeria Limited because they became members of NUPENG.

[READ MORE: PENGASSAN shuts Chevron’s premises over failure to pay workers entitlements)

According to the General Secretary of NUPENG, Afolabi Olawale in an interview with Punch, the workers were sacked in 2019 for trying to join the association, a decision the management of Chevron reportedly frowned at. He insisted that the workers have a right to association, making Chevron’s directive an abuse of labour and workers’ rights.

Nairametrics reported when NUPENG first issued the threat in its letter which read in part: “NUPENG with every atom of strength in us is vehemently opposed to this unpatriotic and uncivilised move in view of our assertive commitment to the protection of jobs of our members, considering the high level of unemployment in the country.

“In view of this heartbreaking dilemma, which is currently posing a huge threat to the nation’s industrial peace and harmony as well as socio-economic activities of the citizenry, the union is using this medium to reach out to the management of Chevron to call back to work all the sacked workers forthwith.”

What you need to know: Chevron is the third-largest oil-producing company in Nigeria. It has 40% participation in eight onshore and shallow offshore fields as well as three operated and six non-operated deepwater blocks in the country.