Staff of the oil gaint,
Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) now live in Morbid fear following the wind of mass sack sweeping across virtually all departments of the company
The Tide gathered that the mass sack which began at the last quarter of 2014 saw hundreds of workers disengaged.
An inside source said not only the low and middle level staff but the high officers also, as scores of managers were affected.
He said the company had earlier given signal to the looming mass disengagement but that workers never took it seriously until October and November when letters of  disengagement to hundreds of staff started flying in.
The source said there was strong indication that more staff of the oil major would be laid off during the first quarter of 2015.
Analysts link SPDC’s action to the mass divestment being carried out since last year which resulted in the sale of good number of its oil blocks especially onshore properties.
“So with the sale of these facilities, it is logical to deduce that those employed to man them would become redundant and what most employers do under such circumstances is to disengage workforce, said Aniego Peter, manager of an oil servicing company.
Peter also said the interest of most oil majors in offshore was presently growing and noted that those disengaged by the major oil multinationals could be re-engaged by the indigenous companies acquiring them. Peter who also disclosed that about three of his friends occupying high positions in SPDC were affected by the sack added that the sack fever was a major concern to those now working, during Christmas and New Year Celebration.
Instead of enjoying themselves, some of them were bothered by fear of the unknown. But definitely they cannot run away from it because it is real, Peter remarked.
Another reason for the sack, according to another analyst is the fall in the oil price.
Prince Ogbolo Ogba, a director in an oil servicing firm noted that the oil price fall may also force more public and private organizations to reduce workforce in this 2015.
Attempts to get the reaction of SPDC spokesman Joseph Obari on this development could not yield any result.

Chris Oluoh