They told us Chevron is responsible for our entitlements, claimant tells court

(Nigeria) One of the 235 workers allegedly engaged by Chevron Nigeria Limited, and handed over to its contracting firms,  Joceco Nigeria Limited, Pat Onosen Nigeria Enterprises Limited, Sanco Calaya J.V Nigeria Limited and Hensteel Engineering and Construction Services Limited, Mr. Patrick Gbetah has told a National Industrial Court sitting in  Awka, Anambra State, that they were told that Chevron was responsible for their entitlements

He told the court that they were made to understand during their employment that of the 15 per cent which is their pension, 7.5 percent would be deducted from their salary, while the balance 7.5 percent will be contributed by Chevron, which is the 5th defendant in the N23.5billion suit.

Gbetah in his testimony before the court,  alleged that the Chevron’s contracting firms refused to contribute their 7.5 percent pension fund on the ground that CNL refused to remit money to them.

While acknowledging during cross examination that there was nothing like payment of redundancy in their employment letter,  Gbetah told the court that the Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA supersedes letter of employment, adding “All we are claiming is in the CBA, which comprises of End of Contract, EOC, Redundancy and Pensions.”

Trial judge, Justice J.I. Targama after listening to counsel of the plaintiffs, Chief V.E. Otomiewo who tendered 15 documents and two newspaper publications, counsel to Chevron, Akpomudje, SAN as well as request by counsel to Pat Onosen Nigeria Enterprises Limited, who sought permission of the court to make photocopy of the documents, held that there was an order that the case should be given speedy hearing and as such any form of delay would not be granted.

It was disclosed during cross examination of Gbetah by counsel to Joceco Nigeria Limited that “of a truth, he (Gbetah ) and others were engaged by Joceco from 2005-2011 as welders, scafolders, sand blasters as well as filters and allegedly worked with Chevron’s facilities at the company’s (CNL) site.”

The contract reportedly ended in 2011 and Joceco paid Gbetah and a couple of others involved End of Contract, EOC without redundancy, even as it was established before the court that Pat Onosen Nigeria Enterprises Limited, the 2nd defendant was just a paymaster like the other contracting firms.

The court  adjourned to June 28, 2018 for continuation of hearing.