Chevron is given a 28-day deadline by the Itsekiri group for reclassification

Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has been given a 28-day deadline by the National Association of Itsekiri Graduates (NAIG) Worldwide to begin reclassifying Itsekiri graduates under its Vocational Training Programmes (VTP 5 and 6) and Operational Training Programmes (OTP 2).

On Monday in Warri, the NAIG issued a statement signed by its President and General Secretary, Mr Ben Eburajolo and Mr Esiategiwa Mino, respectively.

Eburajolo, who read a copy of the statement at a press conference, said the group would not hesitate to disrupt the multinational’s operations in its communities if it did not comply with their demands.

The group also demanded that development in Oil Producing Areas resume immediately, as well as the provision of light and potable drinking water to Itsekiri host communities.

According to Eburajolo, the graduates were competent in their various locations and did not break any of the company’s rules.

He stated that the affected graduates’ reclassification should be retroactive, noting that they had completed the practical portion of the training.

“For VTP5/OTP2 and VTP6, their reclassification should be backdated to January 2016 and January 2017, respectively.

“As enshrined in our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with you, CNL should immediately resume Operation and Maintenance (O&M) training with the goal of employment,” he said.

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The graduates were working in their respective organizations when Chevron promised them good paying jobs after their training, according to Eburajolo.

He claimed that in 2017, the late Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, intervened in the matter, and that CNL management promised to take action in 2018.

CNL had always claimed a drop in crude oil prices as the reason for not reclassifying the affected graduates, according to the group’s leader, who pointed out that those on VTP4 were reclassified when the price was below $40/bbl.

He mentioned that crude oil prices had risen and remained stable at around $70 per barrel.

A CNL employee, who did not want to be identified, simply stated that the claim “was not true.”