Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The National Youths Council of Nigeria, NYCN, has threatened to occupy a multinational oil servicing firm, Halliburton Nigeria, over alleged plans by the firm to retrench workers, majority of whom are Rivers State indigenes.
Chairman of NYCN in Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo, who disclosed this in Port Harcourt, urged the management of the oil firm to halt the planned sacking, else the group would embark on a non-stop protest to the company.
Ihunwo explained that retrenching workers in a time when the country has entered into another recession, would increase unemployment rate in the state as well as insecurity.
“I want to advise the management of Halliburton that this not the right time for this kind of arrangement, because as you can see, the economy of the country is really bad at the moment.
“Dropping some workers right now will increase the unemployment rate in the country, especially among the youths of Rivers State.
“So I am using this medium to call on the management of Halliburton to rescind that decision; failure to desist, we will be forced to occupy their premises.”
The National Youths Council of Nigeria also urged companies operating in Rivers State to work in line with the vision of the state government in expanding the state’s economy.
“Rivers State is very peaceful and the Governor has committed a lot of time and resources to ensure the state is peaceful.
“So dropping workers who are Rivers people, right now, could encourage insecurity in the state. So I want to call on the multinational to please desist from that action.”
