Workers Shut Down ExxonMobil Over Sack of 145 Nigerian Workers

Exxon Mobil workers protesting

Workers of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, an affiliate of ExxonMobil protesting against the indiscriminate sack of 145 Nigerian workers.

Members of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria shut down business operations at the ExxonMobil office in Lagos on Thursday over the alleged sacking of 145 workers by the company’s management.

During a protest, the workers, who are members of staff of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, an affiliate of ExxonMobil, also said they had shut down activities at the Qua Iboe Terminal of the company in Akwa Ibom State.

The ExxonMobil Branch Vice-Chairman of PENGASSAN, Mr. Gbenga Ekundayo, said that the company refused to complete negotiations with the union before embarking on the disengagement of the workers.

According to him, the oil and gas company informed the union that it was disengaging some of the workers because of low performance.

He said the union had argued that the system of performance appraisal was flawed and unfair, saying it had only provided instances that would warrant punishment and sacking of the workers without making provisions for their promotion.