Sacked Mobil staff demand N11.4bn terminal benefits
Thu Sep 08, 2016 11:17:am Business
2.8K By Buchi Obichie
A whooping N11.4bn have been demanded as terminal benefits by former
workers of Mobil Producing Nigeria, from the management of the oil
company.
It was learnt that over 1,444 affected people were engaged as service contract workers by the company and later laid off in 2012 without commensurate entitlements as contained in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, reportedly reached between them and the company.
According to the spokesman of the group, Mr. Godwin Idim, who spoke on Wednesday in Eket, some of the sacked staff had died in the course of the struggle to get the company to pay their entitlements.
He called on the Governor of Akwa-Ibom, Udom Emmanuel, to wade into the matter and save their souls.
The CBA, dated July 1, 2010 and signed by a former Field Manager, Human Resources of MPNU, Mr. Seun Oluwole; the Assistant Secretary, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Mr. G. A. Tasker; the Chairman, Labour Contract, Mr. Ikohesa Ikohesa; and the Chairman, Service Contract, Mr. Aniedi Douglas, was made available to newsmen.
A counsel to the disengaged workers, Mr. Jacob Udobang & Associates, in a letter reminded the MPN of the need to settle with the workers, stressing that the existing labour law it signed with NUPENG and service contract employees remained binding.
He stated that majority of the affected workers were from the oil-producing communities of Akwa Ibom State and urged the MPN to pay the disengaged workers their entitlements in line with the CBA without delay.
However, in a letter dated February 25, 2013 and signed by Mr. Justin Ezeala, Mobil denied having any obligation whether directly or indirectly to pay terminal benefits to the disengaged workers.
The letter stated, "We are not aware of any labour contract collective bargaining agreement dated July 1, 2010 or any other date, signed between the MPN and representatives of your client."
It was learnt that over 1,444 affected people were engaged as service contract workers by the company and later laid off in 2012 without commensurate entitlements as contained in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, reportedly reached between them and the company.
According to the spokesman of the group, Mr. Godwin Idim, who spoke on Wednesday in Eket, some of the sacked staff had died in the course of the struggle to get the company to pay their entitlements.
He called on the Governor of Akwa-Ibom, Udom Emmanuel, to wade into the matter and save their souls.
The CBA, dated July 1, 2010 and signed by a former Field Manager, Human Resources of MPNU, Mr. Seun Oluwole; the Assistant Secretary, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Mr. G. A. Tasker; the Chairman, Labour Contract, Mr. Ikohesa Ikohesa; and the Chairman, Service Contract, Mr. Aniedi Douglas, was made available to newsmen.
A counsel to the disengaged workers, Mr. Jacob Udobang & Associates, in a letter reminded the MPN of the need to settle with the workers, stressing that the existing labour law it signed with NUPENG and service contract employees remained binding.
He stated that majority of the affected workers were from the oil-producing communities of Akwa Ibom State and urged the MPN to pay the disengaged workers their entitlements in line with the CBA without delay.
However, in a letter dated February 25, 2013 and signed by Mr. Justin Ezeala, Mobil denied having any obligation whether directly or indirectly to pay terminal benefits to the disengaged workers.
The letter stated, "We are not aware of any labour contract collective bargaining agreement dated July 1, 2010 or any other date, signed between the MPN and representatives of your client."
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