One thousand four-hundred and forty-four sacked contract workers with Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to compel the oil giant to pay N11, 400, 000 billion owed them since 2012.

Secretary-General of the group, Mr. Ubong Eshiet in an interaction with journalists in Uyo Wednesday complained that MPN was showing lackadaisical attitude towards the payment of their severance package/welfare.

Eshiet said that the delay in the payment of their severance entitlements for 7 years now negates the federal government’s road-map for sustainable peace in the Niger – Delta region.

He also lamented that their plight was unbearable as many of them have been forced to live in dejection.

The appeal is coming; a week after the Niger – Delta ex-militant leader, Asari – Dokubo had warned MPN to stop the continuous deprivation of the rights and privileges of former 1, 444 indigent service contract workers at Ibeno in Akwa Ibom.

Asari-Dokubo’s warning, which was contained in a letter to the In-Country Lead Manager/Managing Director of MPN dated September 24, 2019 however condemned, the unwarranted refusal of the company to pay the N11, 400, 000B redundancy benefit as unacceptable.

The matter, according to Mr. Eshiet had failed to materialized, even after the former Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu and outgone GMD, NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru had assured during a meeting in Abuja with them that, severance would be paid. He commended the support of former militant leaders for ensuring; the deprived workers did not resort to arms but, urged appropriate authorities to take urgent steps to address the issue, as the group was running out of patience.

He said, the House of Representatives committee on Public Petition during President Good-Luck Jonathan’s administration, was aware of this before it was allegedly swept under the carpet on the orders of the company.

The Secretary-General further lamented the breaching of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Mobil signed with the workers on July 10, 2010, and called on President Buhari to order a thorough investigation into the delay in the payment of N11, 400, 000B severance benefits to 1, 444 sacked service contract workers since 2012 by the company.

A group of ex-service contract workers with Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the delay in payment of N11, 400, 000 Billion owed to 1, 444 sacked workers of the company since 2012.

Secretary-General of the group, Mr. Ubong Eshiet made the call in an interaction with newsmen in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Tuesday.

He said, they decided to bring the matter to the attention of Mr. President for intervention, since MPN was showing lackadaisical attitude towards the payment of their severance package/welfare after the sack adding that, such delay was at variance with the federal government’s road-map for sustainable peace in the Niger – Delta region.

Mr. Eshiet also disclosed that, for 8 years since the company denied them what he described as, ‘‘End-of-Service-Benefits’’ life was unbearable as many were forced to live in dejection.

The appeal is coming; a week after the Niger Delta ex-militant leader, Asari-Dokubo had warned MPN to stop the continuous deprivation of the rights and privileges of former 1, 444 indigent service contract workers at Ibeno in Akwa Ibom.

Asari-Dokubo’s warning, which was contained in a letter to the In – Country Lead Manager/Managing Director of MPN dated September 24, 2019 however condemned, the unwarranted refusal of the company to pay the N11, 400, 000B redundancy benefit as unacceptable.

The matter, according to Mr. Eshiet had failed to materialized, even after the former Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu and outgone GMD, NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru had assured during a meeting in Abuja with them that, severance would be paid. He commended the support of former militant leaders for ensuring; the deprived workers did not resort to arms but, urged appropriate authorities to take urgent steps to address the issue, as the group was running out of patience.

He said, the House of Representatives committee on Public Petition during President Good-Luck Jonathan’s administration, was aware of this before it was allegedly swept under the carpet on the orders of the company. (The Nation)

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