Protesting workers shut ExxonMobil headquarters

The Lagos headquarters of ExxonMobil has been shut down by the company’s workers over the sacking of 860 spy police without entitlement.

NAN reports that the workers alleged that the workers were sacked after being with the company for 22 years without regard for the rule of law.

Rasak Obe, the chairman of ExxonMobil branch of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), said the company is quick to indiscriminately sack Nigerians and replace them with expatriates.

The union leader also urged the management to immediately reinstate the 16 employees purportedly sacked in December 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.

He said 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,” he said.

“There are tens more who by the 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 the subject.”

He said expatriate security personnel, many of whom were ex-servicemen, are currently engaged in the security department against the directives of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) and the 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.

“This impunity has been raised with HR and Law since February 2018, but the company continues to ignore our advice.”

Ogechukwu Udeagha, the manager, 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,” he said.

“And it is offering Human Resource, consulting services to assist with employment opportunities with third parties.”