Chevron Operations Shut down Over Attempt To Replace Nigerian Workers With Foreigners

Nigerian workers at Chevron are set to shutdown the company's operation in Nigeria over an alleged plan to replace the Nigerian workers with foreigners.

AllNews had reported that Chevron planned to sack about 2,000 workers in the coming days of which several workers believe its an attempt by the company to give way to foreign workers.

Chevron denied that the retrenchment of its workers was to employ more expatriate workers but to save costs, “CNL and its affiliates, confirms that it is reviewing its manpower requirements in the light of the changing business environment while continuing to evaluate opportunities to improve capital efficiency and reduce operating costs.

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“In this process, the company will be streamlining its workforce and improving service delivery and overall performance at all levels. This will increase efficiency and effectiveness, retain value, reduce cost, and generate more revenue for the federal government of Nigeria." the company said in a recent statement.

Workers' Union Accuse Chevron Of Manipulation, Prioritising Foreign Workers

Responding to Chevron's statement, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) in a joint letter said Chevron wants to use COVID-19 to chase Nigerian workers out in order to use foreigners do same jobs.

With about 2,000 Nigerian jobs set to be terminated, the workers' unions have instructed their workers to shut down the operations of Chevron by commencing a strike action. Thousands of employees have already been informed of their employment termination, while some were told to reapply for their jobs.

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“Chevron management was using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to ease out Nigerian workers from the company while it continued to engage expatriates to do jobs that Nigerians were qualified to perform." President of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha and his PENGASSAN counterpart, Festus Osifo, said.

The combined letter also stated that “We are against this imperialist agenda. We are going to check this manipulation. We have directed our members in Chevron to withdraw their services and call on the Federal Government to call Chevron management to order otherwise we can no longer guarantee industrial peace in the oil and gas sector.”