Mkpoikana Udoma 02 July 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Managing Director of Halliburton Energy Services, Mr. Henry Oki, has appeared before the Rivers State House of Assembly over allegation of discrimination against the indigenes of the state in employment in the company.
The House of Assembly had in June threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on the management of Halliburton should its managing director fail to appear before the lawmakers at its next sitting.
The House had summoned the managing director following a petition to the effect that the oil servicing firm discriminates against Rivers indigenes in its employment scheme, especially at the managerial level.
Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Ikunyi Ibani, expressed anger that he failed to appear in person but sent some officials of the company to represent him. The lawmakers sent the officials back and threatened arrest of the managing director should he fail to appear in person at the next sitting of the house.
In his response to the allegation, the managing director described the allegation of discriminating against Rivers State indigenes in employment in the company as untrue.
According to Oki, “Halliburton has no such plans to victimise or tactically erased any individual or group under our employ.
“As a matter of fact, our policies are to grow the local workforce as much as possible and then put in structures for succession.
“I will not tactically as a Nigerian see policies that are not favourable in areas where we work and get benefits for our business and then decide to destroy it, because that is like me destroying my own house.”
Meanwhile, the speaker of the Assembly has assured that the lawmakers would not relent in fighting injustice and discrimination against indigenes of Rivers State by oil companies operating in the state
“When we see injustice, we don’t shy away from it, we attack it. Discriminating against Rivers indigenes in the employment of Halliburton is unjust.
“As members of Rivers State House of Assembly, under our watch such will not continue. We must put a stop to such and I have promised that we are going to use Halliburton as a test case,” Ibani said.