HOST COMMUNITIES ISSUE 14 DAY ULTIMATUM TO Chevron

The Host Communities to multinational oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) have given the company a 14-day ultimatum to address issues of alleged gross marginalization and breach of the General Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU)  against them or risk the mother of all protest.

The Host Communities under the aegis of Host Community Graduates comprising of Ijaw, Itsekiri in Delta State and Ilaje in Ondo State, handed down the 14 days ultimatum at a press conference held at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents Chapel, Delta State, yesterday.

The test of he press statement signed on behalf of the Host Communities Graduates (Ijaw, Itsekiri & Ilaje) signed byYabrade Moses, Edema Collins Oritsetimeyin and Ikuesan Ademola Kelly as Presidents of Egbema & Gbaramatu Graduates Employment Front (KOMBOT), National Association of Itsekiri Graduates (NAIG) and National Association of Ilaje Graduates (NAIG), was read at the press conference by Yabrade Moses.

“Since Chevron Nigeria Limited acquired Gulf Corporation over 20 years ago, our graduates have had to literarily beg or embark on mass protest before being employment opportunities in Chevron Nigeria Limited. This is despite the fact we have produced thousands of first class graduates in various fields of human study. We also have alot of graduates with distinction and merit in their post graduates pursuit from various institution of higher education within Nigeria and overseas.”

“Many years ago, Chevron always give an alibi of lack of qualification as a strong reason for not employing host community workers and that their employment policies is equal opportunities for all Nigerians which was only reviewed recently to include a deceptive clause with a little preference for host community indigenes.”

The Host Communities Graduates warned that, “No amount of intimidation will deter us this time as we have lost faith in Chevron, and have waited patiently enough. These nine letters are enough and our tenth letter will be reflected in massive action (protest).

They gave the oil company ten points demand which  includes, “immediate conversion of
VTP5/OTP2 trainees, immediate conversion of VTP6/OTP3 trainees, intake of 2014 Ogere training awaiting batch, Reserve employment quota for us “host communities in every Chevron employment chances in accordance
with the local content act especially in the following department; Human Resources, Procurement, Legal, Finance, Marine etc, and  reinstatement of all indigenes sacked without due process (e.g Timmy Okrika. Prince Dateme and Godwin Omadoye) that has been absolved of all wrong doings by the National Assembly after investigation/inquiries in the presence of CNL.

Others include, Direct all Chevron sub-contractors to employ host community workers, infrastructural development, Review the undergraduate scholarship scheme from #75,000
to #300,000 per annum due to inflation, Chevron should provide post-graduate scholarship for host communities, the Operations Manager position must be reserved for qualified people from host communities and creation of a means of survival for most of our graduates through entrepreneurship and empowerment programmes pending employment opportunities.”

They also threatened to shut down Chevron Nigeria Limited operations and flow stations with massive protests if their demands are not met within the stipulated period mobilizing their mothers, fathers and brothers as their patience have reached an elastic limit.

The Spokesperson of Chevron Nigeria Limited , Deji Haastrup, when contacted on his mobil phone, declined comment.