To forestall possible shutdown of the oil and gas industry in the country as a result of the lay-off of 175 workers by one of the contract companies of Chevron Nigeria Limited, the management of Chevron has commenced intense negotiations with the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Esimaje Brikinn, the company’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, made this known in an interview with NAN on Sunday in Lagos.
NUPENG had threatened to embark on nationwide strike if the sacked workers were not reinstated.
But, Brikinn said the laid-off workers were not employees of Chevron but workers of an independent contractor providing services to Chevron.
He said the contract company laid off its workers following the suspension of the service contract agreement between it and Chevron.
“CNL is a responsible and law-abiding company.
“In keeping with our commitment to resolving issues through meaningful dialogue and respect for the rule of law, we are engaging the leaders of NUPENG and the contractor company to fully understand and seek an amicable resolution of the issues.
“The company’s highest priority remains the welfare and safety of its employees, contractors and the security of its assets; we will, therefore, do our best to safeguard these interests,” Brikinn said.
(NAN)
