Indigenes of Effurun in
Delta State have barricaded the gates of the Petroleum Training Institution (PTI), Effurum in protest against alleged neglect by authorities of the institution.
In their protest which commenced Thursday, the community insisted on implementation of contents of the bill establishing the local content scheme for host communities which allots 40 per cent job placements to host communities.
“We are demanding 40 per cent job placement as contained in the bill establishing the local content scheme for host communities”, said John Enakireru, chairman of Urwie who spoke to newsmen.
Enakireru explained that instead of implementing the content of the bill, members of the host communities were neglected in employment and contract execution and said that the protesters would continue to barricade the college entrance until their requests are met.
He regretted that they had made several representations to the management of PTI to employ qualified youths of the area but to no avail.
“We are demanding our fair share of job placement for Uvwie sons and daughters but PTI authority continues to turn deaf ears to our demands. It is sad that in its 42 years of existence, no Uvwie person had held a key position, yet we say we are one Nigeria,” he said.
Spokesperson of PTI, Brown Ukanefemoni pleaded for calm assuring them that the authorities were discussing the problem in the hope of finding lasting solution.
Ukanefemoni said barricading the entrance to the institution thereby preventing movement would not solve the problem and urged the protesters to bear with the management.
The Tide gathered that some candidates of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations were also prevented from writing their exanimation because of the incident.

Chris Oluoh