The National Association of Ilaje Graduates (NAIG) in Ondo and Delta State has given the multinational oil company, Chevron Nigeria Limited, an ultimatum of fourteen (14) days to address its four-point demands centered on the marginalization of Ilaje graduates and indigenous companies, while appealing to President Bola Tinubu, and to the Ondo and Delta State Governors to call Chevron to order.

The association of Ilaje graduates made their position known in a petition it issued penultimate weekend and that was signed by its president and secretary, Kelly Ikuesan and Temidunmi Adeyemi, respectively.

According to the association, the petition "concerns the gross marginalization of Ilaje graduates in terms of employment opportunities by Chevron Nigeria Limited for the past 17 Years, forced labour of graduates of the Vocational Training Programme (VTP5 & VTP6) in Chevron Nigeria Limited, and denial of competent Ilaje owned companies opportunity to be involved in the tender and bid process of critical job contract in Chevron operations in our land."

The association further alleged that the action of Chevron is an abuse of the Nigeria Local Content Act as the company "willfully and maliciously refused, neglected and defaulted either to give or award to our Ilaje graduates the Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization (OPITO) certificates or convert them to permanent staff which was the main idea of the training."

It also hinted further that the Ilaje ethnic nationality has not been treated fairly by Chevron over the years, especially as "It is on record that for the past 35 years Ilaje youths have not been given employment opportunity in departments such as legal, Supply Chain, Mechanical Integrity (MI), Human Resources, Medical, Engineering, Procurement, etc."

The graduate association therefore demanded from Chevron the following: "That considering all the injustices done to us (Ilaje) for the past 35 years, Chevron should give us at least 50% of the vacancy slots in the up coming recruitment exercise.

"That considering how we have been denied our employment opportunities in time past by Chevron Nigeria Limited despite our youths performing excellently in past recruitment process, a special cut-off mark be agreed upon for our youths in the forthcoming recruitment process.

"That considering the long delay, pain, trauma, and humiliation meted out to VTP5 and VTP6 over the past ten years they should be given first consideration in employment in their areas of specialisation and converted to Chevron direct staff before any other persons from Nigeria.

"That considering the fact that our indigenous contractors have never been considered for contracts in Drilling and other specialise contracts, Ilaje owned businesses be given first consideration or right of first refusal in the award of drilling contracts, wellhead maintenance, production, procurement, etc."

Speaking further, while the graduate association said that "We do not want to be employed just with slots, we will pass through the process; however 50% of all the job slot should be reserved for Ilaje," it however warned that "Chevron Nigeria Limited should not cut corners in the employment process because this will also bring a total showdown with Chevron Nigeria Limited."

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