A group of Chevron/Texaco Overseas (Nigeria) Petroleum Company Unlimited staff who were forcibly retired two decades ago but have been fighting their cause relentlessly ever since have brought out the following publication to the attention of all Nigerian people of conscience:

RETIREMENT WITH TEARS

Chevron Nigeria Ltd/Texaco Overseas (Nigeria) Petroleum Co. Unltd forcefully retired 103 Nigerian Staff Employees between 1995 and 1999 before their normal retirement age of 60 years stated in the Company’s handbook which was the Binding Agreement between both parties when the Retirees were offered Employment.

1995 - 49 staff retired
1996 - 3 staff retired
1997 - 14 staff retired
1998 - Nil
1999 - 37 staff retired
103

Staff strength of the entire Company before the retirement exercise was 283.

Retired staff in 1995, 1996 and 1997 were handicapped because of the ban on unionism by the Military Government. PENGASSAN and affected employees were furious but could not react for fear of military harassment.

Our group later met with Management and demanded for payment covering the unserved period but this was rejected. Furthermore, the retired staff pressed for monthly pension salaries which also was refused. Up to date no retired employee of Chevron/Texaco Corporation between 1995 and 1999 is paid monthly pension salary.

Lump Sum For Life: The Retirees in boiling anger kicked in August 1995 and the Company came up with a plan titled “Retirement Entitlement and Settlement” which was issued to every retired staff. In item 5 of the said document captioned “Pension Entitlement (Non Contributory)” the Company unilaterally paid each retired staff a ridiculous sum, (so-called lump sum) not in line with any of the staff collective agreement and conditions of service, which lump sum was meant to serve as Pension for life. A situation where majority of Management staff were paid less than N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) each as lump sum for life.

The said lump sum was imposed on every retired staff without recourse to our Employment Agreement and working conditions with the Company. The sum is grossly inadequate as Pension for life by Labour Standards. This is our stand.

In 1999 the contention against early retirement was again revived with PENGASSN threatening a Nation Wide Strike on behalf of the affected staff if the Company turned down their demand.

On account of the strike threat, an Ad-hoc Committee of the Senate headed by late Senator Melford Okilo was set up to meet with the representatives of PENGASSN on 6th July, 1999 on the proposed oil worker’s strike.

At last, the crisis was resolved by Texaco Overseas (Nig.) petroleum Company Unltd agreeing to pay the retired staff of 1999 the unserved period up to 60 years of their normal retirement age. The agreement between PENGASSAN and TOPCON for the payment was signed on 19th and 20th August, 1999.
Having conceded payment to 1999 group for the unserved period, we feel unjustly and unequitably left out or unjustly denied our rights by Chevron Nigeria Ltd.

We are also grossly worried over non payment of monthly pension which every staff of reputable Companies like Chevron, SPDC and other oil Companies in Nigeria enjoy. Why not our group?

Having exhausted all efforts, the Retirees petitioned the Federal House of Representatives on 31st January 2000. The Committee on Public Petitions invited the Petitioners and the Respondents to formally present their case and defence respectively. Several meetings were held between the Petitioners, the Respondents and the Committee members. In conclusion, the House of Representatives made the following recommendations.

(i) “This Honourable House do urge Texaco Overseas (Nig.) Petroleum Company Unlimited to honour and respect the terms of contract of employment between the Company and the Petitioners.

(ii) That the Petitioners be paid for the unserved period of five years a lump sum at the prevailing rate when they were retired.

(iii) That the Petitioners be refunded the 3% discounted from their final entitlements.

(iv) That some of the Petitioners entitled to the Home Ownership Grant be paid without further delay”.

The Resolution/Decision of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria dated 13th June, 2002 was communicated to the Management of Chevron / Texaco Corporation by a letter dated 18th July, 2002 but the Company disregarded the Resolution/Decision and nothing was done.

Late Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) who was the Petitioners’ Lawyer wrote several letters to the Company and the House of Representatives urging Chevron/Texaco Corporation to honour and respect the Resolution/Decision taken by the House but all to no avail.

Finally, the matter was filed in Effurun High Court in November, 2004. It lasted for 10 years in the Court before it was taken to the National Industrial Court in Lagos on 24th February, 2014 where the retirees were frustrated on grounds of statute bar in May, 2016. 29 of the 103 have died; pushed to their untimely death by hardship/frustration.

The rest of us hereby cry to the Public to intervene and redeem us from this copious gross oppression by Chevron Nigeria Ltd.



Samson Ofuebo
08030659460
09050745455