NUPENG Decries Deployment Of Soldiers At Oil Installations

The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has warned the management of Chevron not to deploy soldiers to its oil installations as this might cause industrial crisis.

The union gave the warning in a news statement signed by Mr Isaac Aberare, Acting General Secretary, which was made  available to The Tide.

Comrade Aberare said that Chevron planned to deploy soldiers and other security agencies to its installations in Escravos, Warri, Port-Harcourt and other locations.

He said union and management of Chevron had met on December. 27 and 28 in Abuja, to discuss the contract of the Big 6 in Chevron and labour related issues— at the instance of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

He said during the meeting, an agreement was not reached but another meeting was fixed for January7.

Comrade Aberare alleged that Chevron had ordered the soldiers to shoot at sight, adding that the company also denied the contract workers access to the installations, stressing that the union believed in the mediation   meeting which, would pave way for easy transition to the new contractors.

He said the action of Chevron was uncalled for stressing that the denial of 1,700 contract workers access to these installations may lead to a serious industrial crisis that will not augur well for the oil and gas industry.

He said that there was no need to deploy troops to the area when agreement on labour related issues had not been concluded between the two parties. ‘

‘The union will not take lightly any action by Chevron to deploy soldiers to its installations that will cause harm to its members.

Comrade  Aberare called on Chevron to allow contract workers access to its installations until the outcome of the January 7 meeting in Abuja.

The union advised Chevron management to have faith in the discussions brokered by the NNPC and put any action on hold.