- The workers are protesting non payment of their severance packages by Addax
BY: IFEANYI NWANGUMA
Fifty Workers of Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited OML 124 have accused the management of the Oil Company of withholding their retirement Benefits and other incentives due to them after forced retirement.
The aggrieved workers who served the company as drivers , HSE personnel’s and security personnel’s on Wednesday 18th November 2020, protested the non-payment of their severance packages by Addax company.
The protesters, who shut down Addax entrance gate bore placards and chanted solidarity songs outside the flow station gate at Izombe ,Oguta LGA, Imo State, pointed out that they have all it takes to make the environment unsafe and uncomfortable for Addax Petroleum Company to operate, adding that they are ready to challenge Addax Petroleum Company at any level inorder to get their due retirement benefits.
The workers, in a press statement signed by Mr Raphael Anozie, Chairman and Prince Nwabude Dickson, Secretary, on behalf of the aggrieved workers argued that,”we are strongly telling the Managing Director of Addax Petroleum that we cannot be retired without proper and reasonable financial benefits. we have copied all the important personnel in Addax company. After this peaceful protest, if all our requests are not considered, we will make Addax premises unsafe and uncomfortable for any operation.”
The former Addax workers noted that further delay in paying them all their benefits may be detrimental to the company existence in the area as preparations are in top gear to mobilize their wives, children and relatives to occupy the main entrance gate of Addax Petroleum Nigeria Limited permeantly.
” If the Company remain adamant to our demands, we will take further actions that will be detrimental to the existence of Addax company in Oguta LGA.
Some of our colleagues, had lost their lives due to inability to feed well or afford medical care.”
They said some of the former workers which greater number are not up to retirement age could barely feed their families, having been thrown out of employment without benefits and regretted that one of them ,Comrade Amagwula Chigozie, who was sick has finally died since for four months there is no salary from which he could treat himself.
“On 4th of August, 2020, we were summoned to Addax flow station first gate as underdogs to be handed over a letter of retirement/termination of appointment with no defined lines of retirement benefits. We bluntly rejected the letters ,we were asked not to step into the premises henceforth,otherwise we shall be arrested.
“we use this medium to call on all authorities concerned to intervene now before its too late. We shall also remind you that if the HSE workers whose Primary assignment is the safety and orderliness of the facility you have in OML124 have slacked in the course of duty, the management will not have enjoined the success it is enjoying today.”
“We are making our demand clear and loud. Each retiring staff must be paid the sum of Ten Million Naira without any deduction in the spirit of peace..”
“As long as we remain at home without proper settlement, we are still on the pay roll of the company and If truly the management desire the progress of the company, they should do well to pay us our salaries from month of August 2020 till we come to terms.”
All efforts made to reach Addax management proved abortive as combined team of security operatives at the entrance gate refused to grant journalists access .
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