TheCable

ExxonMobil Nigeria has laid off additional 89 workers in a gale of retrenchments that started in the company last year.

NAN said a top source disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview at Mkpanak in the Ibeno local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

The source reportedly said 60 regular workers and 29 contract workers were affected in the latest retrenchment, involving mainly workers at the company’s Qua Iboe terminal, adding that more workers may be laid off in the next two months.

The agency reported that the retrenched workers had been paid their terminal benefits running into millions of naira.

“The amount paid is commensurate with the number of years put in by each of the affected workers,” the source was quoted to have said.

“The departments mostly affected include public affairs, general services and logistics.”

Nsikak Ekwere, one of the retrenched workers, who claimed he still had eight more years to work with the company, said he was surprised to see his name among the retrenched workers.

He blamed the retrenchment on the current economic situation in Nigeria, promising to make good use of his terminal benefits to create employment for himself.

Ogechukwu Udeagha, manager, media and communications of ExxonMobil did not respond to calls or text messages sent to him on the issue.

At least 250 workers of the company were reportedly laid off between January and November last year.

On December 15, the company’s Lagos office was shut down, following a tense impasse between workers and the management over retrenchment issues.

Oil companies in Nigeria have resorted to laying-off workers since Nigeria entered a crippling recession that has dealt a severe blow to the economy.