Chevron to fire 25% of Nigerian workers

Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has announced the downsizing its workforce in Nigeria by 25 per cent across various levels in the oil firm, a development frowned at by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

The international oil firm said the development followed the evolving negative operational environment in the energy sector. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that workers of the oil firm under the auspices of the PENGASSAN on Friday in Lagos protested the looming sack of 600 employees.

Esimaje Brikinn, CNL’s General Manager Policy, Government and Public Affairs, in a response statement, noted that the 25 per cent job cut was to reposition the oil firm for greater efficiency and competitiveness.

The statement was, however, silent on the exact number of workers to be affected by the job cut, but said that 25 per cent of its workers will be sacked.

“CNL and its affiliates, confirms that it is reviewing its manpower requirements in the light of the changing business environment, while continuing to evaluate opportunities to improve capital efficiency and reduce operating costs.

“In this process, the company will be streamlining its workforce and improving service delivery and overall performance at all levels.

“This will increase efficiency and effectiveness, retain value, reduce cost, and generate more revenue for the Federal Government of Nigeria. It is important to note that all our employees will retain their employment until the reorganization process is completed,” he noted.

“CNL supports the Federal Government in its objectives and efforts to build a prosperous Nigeria. In the area of employment generation, the company has several social investments which are helping to provide employment for thousands of Nigerians,” the statement read in part.

He dismissed speculations that the exercise was to outsource jobs done by Nigerians to foreigners, adding that there are no plans to migrate Nigerian jobs outside the country.

CNL’s General Manager Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Mr Esimaje Brikinn, made the clarification in a statement on Friday.

He said, however, that the company was reviewing its manpower requirements in the light of the changing business environment.

According to him, the new organisational structure will require approximately 25 per cent reduction in the work force across the various levels of its organisation.

“The aim is to have a business that is competitive and have an appropriately sized organisation with improved processes.