Mass Action, the Only Option Left, Ugborodo Graduates Warns Chevron

By Philip Onome

Ugborodo graduates Association (UGA) in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, has lamented the continued marginalization of Ugborodo indigenes by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), Waring that they are left with no option than to embark on mass action against Chevron.

Addressing journalists at the end of an emergency executive meeting in Warri, Delta State, the UGA President, Clifford Oritsetsegbemi, also applauded the leadership of Barr. Austin Oboroegbeyi, the Ugborodo Community Trust Chairman, on his publication on Vanguard newspaper calling on Chevron to give 70% employment slots to the community, and drawing the attention of Chevron to the protracted neglect of Ugborodo indigenes involved in the vocational Training Program (VTP 5 and VTP6) that are yet to be called for employment; as well as those very few employed, not converted to permanent staff.

He further commended the leadership of the Ugborodo Community youth body who made a similar publication on Vanguard newspaper too, signed by Mr. Wilson Ejeh, the national chairman and Mr David Mamah, the national PRO, condemning Chevron’s attitude of not respecting the Nigerian local content law, in regard to the current employment process as it concern Ugborodo, their major host community.

The UGA however, charged Chevron Nigeria Limited to dialogue with Ugborodo community, on behalf the percentage of employment slots in the on going recruitment and work out a realistic process with Ugborodo people to address the VTP-5 and VTP-6 Ugborodo indigenes that are still awaiting, as well convert the few employed to permanent staff as the routine practice of engagement.

The graduates association president cited Chevron’s GMOU era, under the defunct Itsekiri Regional Development Committee (IRDC), where employment of Itsekiris into Chevron was effectively localized,thereby promoting peace and unity; as Chevron directly engaged the IRDC in recruitment process.

Oritsetsegbemi said;”If NLNG could respect the right to employment for Bonny indigenes in giving them acceptable percentage as host community, what stops Chevron from doing same in our land?However, with this development, mass action against Chevron is the only option left for us, to shut down their operations in our land”.

The secretary of UGA, David Ejeh, on his part faulted the idea of Chevron subjecting Ugborodo indigenes to the same aptitude test with the general public undermining the fact that they are the major and foremost host community to Chevron, which he described as ‘unacceptable. He urged “Chevron Nigeria to respect the local content law and come to terms with the peculiarities of our community, saying; “as it stands, we are already mobilizing our people for a mass action against Chevron”. he concluded.