Business
Workers Allege Mass Sack In Exxon Mobil …As Firm Lays Off 190
L-R: Representative of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Commodore Hycenth Ezeh, President, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (Naape), Mr Balami David, Chairman of the occasion, Capt. Bayo Araba and one of the lead discussants, Capt. Prex Porbeni, during an Aviation Stakeholders Forum in Lagos, yesterday
No fewer than 150 con
tract staff and 40 drivers have been laid off by the management of the Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), the operator of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC/MPN Joint Venture in Akwa Ibom State.
The affected staff alleged incessant sacking of staff by the management of the company and said the development had devastated staff and their families who depend on them for their livelihood.
According to one of the victims who identified himself as Mr Frank Etebong, though the company had effected payment of their entitlements, the incessant sacking of workers by the management was getting out of control.
Etebong said, if government does not take urgent step to check the incessant sacking of Nigerians in Exxon Mobil, one day the oil giant would disengage all the Nigerian citizens in the company.
He explained that though he had been paid, but that the money was not enough for him to start any good business.
Another victim equally urged stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to take decisive decision on the issue of casualisation noting that most of the oil firms were guilty of the offence.
The victim who pleaded anonymity explained that Nigeria had become a gold nurse for most of the foreigners who bring in their brothers and sisters to displace Nigerians from job positions which the indigenous workers could do far better than the expatriates.
“Upon this, they subject the Nigerian workers to casualisation. I think that this is slavery and I urged the government to stand up against this slavery for the interest of the nation, “ he stated.
Another victim who gave his name as Mr Martins Usendia said there was no justification for the sack of the workers, and lamented that the benefit given to him by the company could not feed him for months.
He called on the Federal Government to intervene, saying that the incessant dismissal of workers had an adverse effect on the economy.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.