The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workers
besieged the office of the oil company, protesting the sacking of workers,
mainly Nigerians, on Tuesday in Lagos.
besieged the office of the oil company, protesting the sacking of workers,
mainly Nigerians, on Tuesday in Lagos.
The protesters accused the company
of sacking the 860 Nigerian workers most of whom had worked with the company
for over 22 years without regards for the rule of law.
of sacking the 860 Nigerian workers most of whom had worked with the company
for over 22 years without regards for the rule of law.
Mr Rasak Obe, the Chairman of
ExxonMobil Branch of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of
Nigeria (PENGASSAN), told NAN that the protest was to express the disaffection
of the workers with the management.
ExxonMobil Branch of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of
Nigeria (PENGASSAN), told NAN that the protest was to express the disaffection
of the workers with the management.
Obe said the leadership and
members of the union were shocked by the mass sack of security personnel who
had faithfully served the company for many years.
members of the union were shocked by the mass sack of security personnel who
had faithfully served the company for many years.
He said the management should
immediately reinstate the employees of the security department sacked and pay
all entitlements due to them.
immediately reinstate the employees of the security department sacked and pay
all entitlements due to them.
The union leader also urged the
management to immediately reinstate the 16 employees purportedly sacked in Dec.
2016 in a similar fashion.
management to immediately reinstate the 16 employees purportedly sacked in Dec.
2016 in a similar fashion.
He also demanded the immediate
release and repatriation of over 20 expatriate personnel in the security
department who had been engaged and kept in defiance of extant Nigerian laws
and security directives.
release and repatriation of over 20 expatriate personnel in the security
department who had been engaged and kept in defiance of extant Nigerian laws
and security directives.
According to him, this was an
unfortunate situation which the Supreme Court of Nigeria had corrected with its
April 20, 2018 judgment of 508 personnel.
unfortunate situation which the Supreme Court of Nigeria had corrected with its
April 20, 2018 judgment of 508 personnel.
“This underscored the scale of
error in company’s assessment of the reality after the Supreme Court judgment.
error in company’s assessment of the reality after the Supreme Court judgment.
“There are tens more who by the
judgment are active employees of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited.
judgment are active employees of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited.
“To say the least, this wholesale
sack unambiguously conveys management’s disdain for the highest court of the
country and mocks its ruling on subject.
sack unambiguously conveys management’s disdain for the highest court of the
country and mocks its ruling on subject.
Obe said the company was quick to
indiscriminately sack Nigerians and replace them with expatriates, taking jobs
Nigerians have successfully performed over the decades.
indiscriminately sack Nigerians and replace them with expatriates, taking jobs
Nigerians have successfully performed over the decades.
H said expatriate security
personnel, many of whom were ex-service men, were currently engaged in the
security department against the directives of National Petroleum Investment Management
Services (NAPIMS)
and the Nigerian Defence Ministry.
personnel, many of whom were ex-service men, were currently engaged in the
security department against the directives of National Petroleum Investment Management
Services (NAPIMS)
and the Nigerian Defence Ministry.
“The cost of keeping one of the
over 20 expatriate security personnel in Nigeria would pay one hundred of the
Nigerian security personnel currently being repressed.
over 20 expatriate security personnel in Nigeria would pay one hundred of the
Nigerian security personnel currently being repressed.
“This impunity has been raised
with HR and Law since February 2018, but the company continues to ignore our
advice.
with HR and Law since February 2018, but the company continues to ignore our
advice.
Mr Ogechukwu Udeagha, the Manager,
Media and Communications of ExxonMobil confirmed the protest.
Media and Communications of ExxonMobil confirmed the protest.
“Following the recent judgment of
the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Mobil Producing Nigeria would provide
compensation packages for affected personnel.
the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Mobil Producing Nigeria would provide
compensation packages for affected personnel.
“And it is offering Human
Resource, consulting services to assist with employment opportunities with
third parties.
Resource, consulting services to assist with employment opportunities with
third parties.
“MPN typically retains security
services through third parties who are best positioned to provide these core
competencies.
services through third parties who are best positioned to provide these core
competencies.
“We thank these individuals for
their prior service in supporting the safety and security of our operations in
Nigeria,” Mr Udeagha said.
their prior service in supporting the safety and security of our operations in
Nigeria,” Mr Udeagha said.
