FG says intimidation of ExxonMobil workers should stop
The Federal government has cautioned the ex-spy policemen protesting against their severance from Mobil Producing Unlimited (MPNU) that all acts of disruption, harassment, picketing and blockade of company facilities, playing loud music and intimidation of against the personnel of the company should be discontinued forthwith.
The protesters who went to Supreme Court to get judgment against the decision of the company to do away with their services are alleged have been offered some compensations which ranges between N17 to N 20 million. But despite this, they are still insisting that their severance packages are too small and wanted it increased.
To press home their demands they have in the past seven weeks employed all manners of tactics to disrupt the operations of the company including playing music and dancing at the entrance of the company’s Lagos headquarters office.
To stop these menace, the federal government through, Chris Ngige, minister of Labour and Productivity decided to give a directive in letter addressed to the managing director of ExxonMobil, Secretary General of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), representatives of security personnel and Femi Falana Chamber, the lawyer to the protesters, stating that they should stop all acts of intimidations within and around.
The minister stated in the letter titled: “Conclusions of the meeting held over the picketing at MPNU locations by former security personnel”
“Further to the letter dated July 25, 2018 and the meeting held at the instance of the honourable minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, on August 27, 2018 with the management of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN), the representatives of the Security Personnel and the leadership of PENGASSAN (represented by MPN Branch) on the above – stated issue, the meeting deliberated on the issue of the Separation of the Security of Labour and Employment directed as follows:
a. That all acts of picketing, harassment, blockade of company facilities playing of loud music, defacing of company facilities or intimidation of personnel and all other acts connected to the above be discontinued immediately. The PENGASSAN and the leadership of the Security personnel should confirm within 48 hours of this meeting (by Wednesday, August 29, 2018) that this directive has been fully complied with, before further implementation of other terms of this agreement.
b. That the separation of the security personnel be upheld
It also stated that as full and final settlement of the dispute between MPN and the separated security communicated under MPN’s 13 July 2018 letter to the 508 security personnel active as of the date of the letter shall be enhanced as follows: a) Payment of the equivalent of one month’s salary (before any adjustments), for the period of separation negotiations up to the end of August 2018 to be paid alongside the separation benefits;
According to the letter the monthly salaries of the separated security personnel stated in the July 13, 2018 letter be increased by 10 percent for the purpose of calculating and paying their individual separation benefits under this settlement, without retroactive application;
It stated that the Pension Transfer Payments for the separated security personnel be 50% cash payment of accrued pensions as part of their separation benefits, which the balance should be transferred to their respective individual retirement savings account.
“As earlier communicated by the company, pay all other elements of the company end of service benefits guidelines which are, gratuity per company policy for employees, setting in allowance – 1.75MBS to all separated personnel, Notice pay – 1 MBS to all separated personnel
Redundancy payment in line with company guidelines up to 60 years at 2MBS per year of service up to a maximum of 36 months must be paid.
A lump sum payment of N260, 000.00 per year of service for each of the separated security personnel.
The enhancements to separation payments listed above shall be applied to security personnel who have separated from MPN and calculated commencing from the date of their initial engagement as recognized by the judgment up to their respective dates of separation and paid to such security personnel.
The enhancements to separation payments listed above shall be applied to security personnel who have died in service, and calculated commencing from the date of their initial engagement as recognized by the judgment up to the respective dates on which their death occurred and will be paid to their designated beneficiaries or estates.
The minister urged all parties to work to quick validate the details of personnel who have died in service, and they should be paid applicable company death benefits in line with company policy as at the date of their death.
The 27 personnel (historical transfer) and 4 personnel (historical issues) should be paid appropriate separation benefits. The period from their exit to the date of this settlement shall be deemed unpaid leave of absence – but service period will apply for separation calculations, including plump – sum legacy payment.
The minister said the company will take steps to expedite payments to the security personnel, and communicate and implementation schedule to the ministry of labour and employment by Monday, September 3, 2018. All separated personnel will complete all formal separation documents in line with company policy for prompt payments.”
“Separated security personnel who may be interested in outplacement support may apply for consideration by third party security service providers to MPN, after completing all documentation required to enable the payments agreed under this settlement.”
Olusola Bello