*Appeal to Gov. Emmanuel to intervene

By Tom Moses

EKET—Sacked Mobil workers in Akwa Ibom have demanded the payment of N11.4 billion compensation as their terminal benefits.

The affected workers numbering 1,444 were engaged as contract staff by Mobil and later laid off in 2012 without commensurate entitlements as contained in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, allegedly entered into by Mobil and the affected workers.

Addressing newsmen in Eket, yesterday, spokesman of the group, Mr. Godwin Idim said: “Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited had reneged on its contractual agreement with the ex-workers despite all entreaties to get the company to honour the deal.

“Some of our members have died in the course of the struggle to get MPN to the negotiation table in order to remit the outstanding financial claims.”

According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, dated July 1, 2010 jointly signed by the former Field Manager, Human Resources of MPNU, Mr. Seun Oluwole,

Assistant Secretary of NUPENG, Mr. G. A. B. Tasker, Chairman, Labour Contract, Mr. Ikohesa O. Ikohesa, Chairman, Service Contract, Mr. Aniedi Douglas and witnessed by Mr. Victor Bassey, Mr. Godwin Udokop as well as Jephter Jonathan, “Gratuity-1.5 month’s gross salary per year served multiply by the number of years of service.

In addition, the employee shall earn all his/her accrued vacation benefits and any other allowance that may accrue to him/ her.”

Idim, however, warned of the consequences of failure to pay former workers, in view of the volatile security situation in the Niger-Delta region in recent times and called on the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to wade into the matter.

Counsel to the disengaged workers, Mr. Jacob Udobang, in a letter had reminded Mobil of the need to settle with the workers since the existing labour law (CBA) it signed with NUPENG and service contract staff on end of service in July 1, 2010 still subsists.

“Where either party exercises the right as defined in (a) above, End of Service Benefits shall apply. End of Service shall mean, the total period an employee has been deployed to work for the client company by any of the forum members. Service may come to an end by resignation, death, termination, end of contract, redundancy, dismissal or retirement.”

Udobang expressed concern that, majority of the affected workers were from the oil producing communities of Akwa Ibom and urged Mobil to pay the disengaged workers their correct benefits and entitlements in line with the CBA without delay.

Contrary to the ex-workers appeal, Mobil in a letter dated February 25, 2013 by Mr. Justin Ezeala, said that it had no obligation whether directly or indirectly for payment of terminal benefits and entitlements to the disengaged workers.

“We are not aware of any Labour Contract Collective Bargaining Agreement dated July 1, 2010 or any other date, signed between MPN and representatives of your client.”

We are not also aware of any meeting on January 21, 2008 or any other date wherein MPN management agreed with representatives of your client on the terms of the said CBA,” the letter stated.