More than 50 retired workers of the former Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the Port Harcourt operational base of the company, now under the management of Oando Plc, over alleged failure to implement welfare agreements reached during the transition of ownership.
The pensioners, under the aegis of the Association of AGIP Oil Company Pensioners, Port Harcourt Chapter, gathered at the facility’s main gate at about 9:00 a.m., carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs as they demanded the fulfilment of commitments they said were made to them during the transition process.
The retirees alleged that despite assurances that their welfare and entitlements would remain protected following the acquisition and management transition, the new management had failed to honour agreed obligations.
Addressing journalists during the demonstration, Chairman of the association, Engr. Paul Sito, said the protest became inevitable after several efforts to engage the management failed to yield positive results.
According to him, pensioners were repeatedly assured that they would not be adversely affected by the transition, but developments since then have fallen short of those assurances.
“We were assured that we would not be left behind during the transition process, but what we are witnessing today is different from those assurances,” Sito said.
The protesters urged Oando’s management and other relevant stakeholders to respect existing Memoranda of Understanding and adhere to internationally recognised standards governing pensioners’ welfare and post-service obligations.
They further called for urgent intervention to address what they described as growing concerns over their welfare and the implementation of agreements reached before the change in ownership.
The demonstration, which drew elderly retirees, highlighted mounting anxiety among former employees over pension and welfare arrangements following the restructuring of corporate operations in the oil and gas sector.
As of the time of filing this report, Oando management had not issued an official response to the allegations or the demands raised by the pensioners.
By Charles Bryson
