IYC issues threat over alleged NNPC’s recruitment lopsidedness

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has frowned at an alleged deliberate exclusion of Ijaws from the ongoing recruitment exercise being carried out by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

IYC President, Worldwide, Pereotubo Oweilaemi said the recruitment exercise was skewed in favour of some sections of the country.

The sections, he disclosed, are the north and the south-west, adding that oil-producing states in the south have two or three slots each.

He described the alleged marginalisation as “the worst economic atrocities perpetrated against these environmentally degraded oil-bearing communities.

“Up till now, the NNPC has not remedied its nepotistic stand. Ijaw people are the worst hit by the parastatal’s lopsided recruitment exercise going on right now.

“Even when it came to refuting our allegation of nepotism, our sources within the body has reliably informed us that the exercise is skewed to favour the northern and South West states.

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“This economic apathy perpetrated against these hitherto environmentally despoiled Niger Delta communities is highly provocative.

“While the FG is gleefully watching its agencies to carry out discriminatory exercise against fellow Nigerians, we will equally resist this discriminatory and divisive policy of alienation.

“President Buhari should call NNPC cabals to order before they further provoke us to anger. We will not accept this riffraff treatment,” the Ijaw warned in a statement made available to Tribune Online on Saturday.

On how to remedy the alleged lopsided appointment, the Ijaw youths said the ethnic nationality should be given “10 per cent of the employment slots from the NNPC as catchments benefits. Anything less than that will be unacceptable.”

They called for the outright suspension of the NNPC’s ongoing recruitment exercise until their grievances are addressed, adding that the corporation should “also publish the list of shortlisted candidates which it secretly invited for an interview.

“Discarding this message may put our economy in jeopardy. Enough of this economic segregation.

“We will no longer sit idly by and allow our rights being taken away. If we must enjoy the current peace in the region, then the people should also be given her fair share in the distribution of oil revenues.

“Buhari should act fast to save us from any likely economic woes,” the Ijaw youths warned.