Pivot GIS Limited says human capital development remains its legacy to its host communities, especially, Bonny Local Government Area, where it is handling an Integrated Maintenance Services Contract (IMSC) for the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG).

It further said that, in its five year sojourn in Bonny LGA since the IMSC was signed on July 1, 2014, it has empowered the people of the area, especially, the youths, through capacity building and assisting them gain the requisite skills and hands-on experiences needed in the post-construction aspects of the oil and gas sector.

The company said this during a media roundtable with Kristina Reports in its office in Bonny Island yesterday.

The company was represented at the meeting by its IMSC Manager, Shola Shokunbi, who was represented by the Human Resources Manager, Dennis Ezekiel-Hart, and Human Resources Lead/Nigerian Content Development Coordinator, Tammy Martins-Brown.

Pivot GIS disclosed that, as part of its human capacity development drive, it organized, in conjunction with the Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre (BIRC), a training programme for instrument technicians, riggers, and scaffolders, among others, and has continued to provide support to community organizations and individuals to enhance their competence and viability in the sector.

Founded in 2004, Pivot GIS Limited, initially a joint venture between Pivot Engineering Company Limited (PECL) and GIS Inc. on 50-50 basis, is an “engineering, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance (EPCM) contracting company, whose focus is to provide quality products and services to our customers in a safe and environmentally sound manner at fair and competitive prices”.

It has, over the years, built a reputation as a premiere service company in the oil and gas industry while maintaining a proper balance between safety, ethics, quality and profits as well as concern for people and the environment.

The company denied recent allegations of undermining the economy of its host community, Bonny Kingdom, stating that, upon arrival, in Bonny Kingdom, it paid the mandatory courtesy visit on the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI, CON, and has always responded to calls from his palace or other community institutions where it has met with various stakeholders in the course of its sojourn on the island.

“We have never been disrespectful to the throne of Bonny Kingdom and we have striven to meet all expectations. We also do not have any issues with the Community Liaison Officer, who represents the community here,” the company said.

On the issue of sexual harassment and intimidation of community members, Pivot GIS said “we have zero tolerance for harassment and intimidation. All such allegations are always thoroughly investigated and we can tell you there have been no issue of sexual harassment here.”

It also debunked insinuations that it was recruiting people from outside the community and lodging them in hotels, saying that all recruitment requisitions are processed through the BIRC and, as a policy, does not provide accommodation for staff.

“We hire more of local hands than from outside because we don’t provide accommodation. Though, once in a while specialized skills are engaged from outside to handle specific jobs, such technical experts handle their accommodation issues by themselves. We only provide accommodation and other types of support for only our key staff, which are less than five.”

“Also, we reserve 20 per cent for greenhorns during our shutdown recruitments. These are newbies or fresh hands, who we train on the job to acquire requisite skill sets that enhance their capacity on the job. And these are mostly, community members”.

The company, which has Kehinde Bolodeoku, an expert in Operations Management, Transport and Logistics Management, Construction, Marketing and General Management, and an entrepreneur of repute, as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, acknowledged that, sometimes, due to the lengthy recruitment process, some persons were left behind, clarifying that it was never a deliberate action.

“For anyone to start working with us, he has to go through the process of mobilization. The process starts with a requisition from Pivot GIS to the Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre (BIRC), followed by the nomination of candidates for assessment by the BIRC, who would now undergo a knowledge/practical test which will be conducted by Pivot GIS”.

“When that is concluded, the best among them are selected to proceed for preboarding assessment, which is usually conducted by the Bonny Vocational Centre (BVC), from which successful candidates move on the next stage which is to undergo medicals before they are now sent for induction”.

“Those who scale through the induction then go on to take their snapshots and have their badging done, leading to the final stage of mobilization, as in where they are now sent to work in the plant. Problem is that anything can happen anywhere along this very long route. But it is not deliberate. It could be that before someone is through with the process, the shutdown exercise is over and has to wait for another round”.

Pivot GIS reiterated its commitment to adherence with global industrial best practice and community stakeholding in the course of doing business with its host communities, assuring that it would sustain its human capital development drive as a legacy it leaves behind where it goes to work.