DSS denies sacking teachers in Abuja school

The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied sacking staff of the Community Staff School, Asokoro in Abuja.

This follows reports the school believed to be run by the Service had sacked over 70 teachers for demanding better working conditions.

Public Relations Officer of the Service, Dr. Peter Afunanya, responding to enquiries in a text to The Nation on Thursday evening, said the school was not run by the DSS.

“The school is autonomous and not run by the DSS. It has an independent Board that takes decisions for it.

“Though I may not be speaking for the school, I however learnt that no single staff was dismissed.

“I was also told that the school will be cutting short its earlier two-week break to resume on Thursday, 5th November 2020,” Afunanya said.

Chevron Nigeria to sack 25% of workforce

Chevron Nigeria Limited has said it will slash its workforce by 25 per cent as it is reviewing its manpower requirements in the light of the changing business environment.

CNL disclosed this on Friday in a statement entitled ‘Chevron Nigeria Limited reviews workforce in accordance with business exigencies’.

The oil major said it would continue to evaluate opportunities to improve capital efficiency and reduce operating costs.

CNL’s General Manager Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn, said, “The aim is to have a business that is competitive and have an appropriately sized organisation with improved processes.

This will increase efficiency and effectiveness, retain value, reduce cost, and generate more revenue for the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

According to him, the new organisational structures will, unfortunately, require approximately 25 per cent reduction in the work force across the various levels of the organisation.

“It is important to note that all our employees will retain their employment until the reorganisation process is completed,” Brikinn said.

He said there were no plans to migrate Nigerian jobs outside the country.

He said, “We have prospects for our company in Nigeria; however, we must make the necessary adjustments in light of the prevailing business climate; and we need everyone’s support to get through these tough times stronger, more efficient and more profitable, in order to sustain the business.

We are actively engaging our workforce to ensure they understand why this is being done. We will continue to consistently engage all relevant stakeholders, including the leadership of the employee unions as we continue this process of business optimisation.”