Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) Unlimited has laid off 182 regular and 103 contract staff members in Akwa Ibom between June and August 1.
It was gathered on Friday in Ibeno that those affected were at its administrative block at Qua Iboe Terminal, Ibeno.
“The company had long paid their contact staff before laying them off. Yesterday, when I went to ExxonMobil, the person I went to see at the maintenance office was also sacked.
“He was among the three contact staff disengaged yesterday at Qua Iboe Terminal and more staff members will be retrenched by September,’’ a source said.
A sacked ExxonMobil staff member, Mr Okon Ibanga, said that the sack had caused hardship for him in view of the economic crisis in the country.
He said that the company was preparing the entitlements of the sacked workers to ameliorate their sufferings.
Ibanga alleged that the retrenchment was politicised as majority of those affected were from Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
Responding to the development, the Media and Communication Manager at ExxonMobil, Mr Ogechukwu Udeagha, who confirmed the development, said the company had adjusted its business in response to the challenge in the export system.
“Our response to your inquiry is that we have adjusted our business in response to the challenge in the export system, which necessitated curtail of production,’’ Udeagha said.
He noted that ExxonMobil’s operations would be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
