4 October 2011, Sweetcrude, Eket – A total of 94 contract workers at the Qua Iboe Terminal, operated by Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom, have been sacked by the company.
Mr Bassey Harry, spokesman of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) at the Terminal said the union was agitating for the payment of the disengaged workers’ benefits.
Harry told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket, Akwa Ibom that the development was regrettable.
He said that it was a negation of assurances by the management of the company to suspend its ongoing staff rationalisation until the adoption of the Petroleum Industry Bill.
The union leader said, “Our major concern is the welfare of affected people, we are not going to impose willing workers on an unwilling management.
“We, however, insist that the procedures as spelt out in the agreement entered into by both parties be met.
“Since the affected people committed no crime, nor performed below expectations, we are insisting that they be disengaged under redundancy terms and not termination.
“We have taken the matter up to ensure that they get their due benefits and we are urging the management to withdraw the termination letters and disengage them under redundancy rule. We are prepared to fight this to any level.”
