The Niger Delta Oil Producing Community Stakeholders (NDOPCS) have called on Chevron Nigeria Limited to address significant technical issues that disrupted its Graduate Aptitude Test held virtually on October 26, 2024.
The test, which was outsourced to online IT provider Dragnet, was intended for candidates in Nigeria and the global diaspora, including regions in Africa, Canada, and the United States. However, candidates experienced system shutdowns and login failures, rendering the assessment largely inaccessible to many.
According to reports from multiple test-takers, Dragnet’s system was inoperative for more than two hours, with numerous candidates facing extended login delays or outright denial of access despite having completed the pre-test assessment. Many of these candidates reached out to Dragnet’s customer service without receiving timely responses, compounding frustrations and raising concerns about the test’s integrity and fairness.
Following Dragnet’s system failure, the NDOPCS in a statement signed by Amb. Preye Oshariye R. National President; Engr. Obot Ikong Steven National Secretary and Misan Ofe Eyesan, Zonal President, urged Chevron to thoroughly investigate the technical failures with Dragnet’s system.
NDOPCS representatives emphasized the importance of rectifying these issues, citing the disruption as detrimental to qualified candidates who could not complete or even begin the test.
"Due to these technical failures, candidates who invested significant time and resources were unable to complete the assessment, compromising the fairness of the selection process," the statement added.
The stakeholders are pressing Chevron to consider rescheduling the test and to explore the option of a physical examination, particularly for candidates from rural communities who may face additional technical barriers in virtual assessments. They argue that an in-person test format could offer a fairer platform for assessing applicants from areas with inconsistent internet access or technological limitations.
The NDOPCS concluded with a firm request: “We urge Chevron to prioritize the validity and inclusiveness of its recruitment process by ensuring that all candidates, irrespective of location or technological access, are given an equal chance to participate. A rescheduled test would demonstrate Chevron’s commitment to a transparent and fair recruitment system.”
Chevron has yet to issue a public response, but the NDOPCS is hopeful that the organization will take swift action to address the concerns raised by affected candidates and stakeholders globally.
