CHEVRON Nigeria Limited, CNL, confirmed that at about 10 a.m last Wednesday, some employees of companies contracted by Chevron, operator of the NNPC/CNL Joint Venture, blocked access to CNL offices in Lekki, Warri and Port Harcourt.

The company in a statement signed by its General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Mr. Deji Haastrup, said the development marked an escalation of a protest by these workers over grievances with their employers.
The workers had since August 7th been carrying out the protest under the auspices of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG.

The statement read in part: “The action of these workers negates Nigerian labour laws and is contrary to the advice of the Federal Ministry of Labour and the order of the National Industrial Court (NIC) for them to suspend the strike. In accordance with the statutory dispute resolution process, the matter was referred by the Federal Ministry of Labour to the National Industrial Court (NIC) since conciliation at the Federal Ministry of Labour did not resolve the issue. 

“The National Industrial Court (NIC), by an order dated September 8, 2015, granted an interim injunction restraining NUPENG from striking, picketing, demonstrating or in any way disrupting the industrial harmony in the offices and facilities of CNL pending the determination of the matter.”

It also added that “CNL continues to honour the invitations of constituted authorities aimed at resolving the issues.