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ExxonMobil headquarters shut ON DECEMBER
15, 20166:19 PMIN NEWSCOMMENTS The Lagos
headquarters of U.S. oil major, ExxonMobil has
been shut, following a standoff with blue-collar
oil unions over the sacking of 150 workers.
Members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas
Senior Staff Association of Nigeria
(PENGASSAN) besieged the office of the oil
giant, protesting the sacking of Nigerian workers.
The standoff is coming on the heels of a similar
development on Wednesday in Upkenekang
Community in Akwa Ibom, where angry youths
disrupting the operations of the company over
the sacking of contract workers from the area.
The protesters, numbering over 1,000, barricaded
entry points to the company with boats, coffins,
leaves and placards, having different inscriptions.
The Chairman of the ExxonMobil Branch of
PENGASAN, Mr Paul Eboigbe, confirmed the
closure of the company's Lagos office. He told
newsmen that the management of the company
went ahead to issue sack letters to worker, while
negotiations were still going on. He said the
union had to resist the action of the
management and went ahead to shut down the
Exxonmobil headquarters. Eboigbe directed the
company's workers at offshore locations to shut
down rigs. The unionist said the company's
management disregarded laid down procedures
and humiliated workers by serving them sack
letters when all avenues to achieve a peaceful
resolution were yet to be explored. The South-
West Branch Chairman of PENGASSAN, Alhaji
Tokunbo Korodo, said that picketing of
ExxonMobil office was also being carried out by
members of the union. Korodo noted that the
picketing was as a result of the anti-labour
practices of the company. He urged the Federal
Ministry of Labour and Productivity to take up
the anti-labour practices of International Oil
Companies (IOCs), operating in Nigeria. Korodo
disclosed that the national body of the union had
said that its members would embark on strike
after the New Year holidays, if nothing was done
to resolve the situation. "This is just the
beginning of our strike against injustice against
our members working with IOCs. "Our members
now wear red clothes and put leaves on their
trucks to show the injustice by these people.
"We have resolved to commence strike next year
if government does not find a solution to the
exploitation by IOCs," he said. The Manager,
Media and Communications of ExxonMobil, Mr
Oge Udeagha, said the company was always
evaluating its operations. "We invest for the long-
term and focus on maintaining a stable, well-
developed workforce and are committed to
treating our employees with respect in
accordance with applicable rules and regulations.
"This is a limited programme that will impact a
relatively small fraction of employees,'' he said of
the disengaged workers. "Special benefits
specifically introduced for this purpose will be
paid to affected employees, consistent with
existing labour agreements. "The company is
also arranging special programme to support the
transition from the company for those affected.
"We respect the rights of our workforce and will
continue to engage with them to resolve this
situation,'' Udeagha said
