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Subscription Form Click here    Independent Mails Check Mail   Archives Select Date >>> March 04, 2003 March 05, 2003 March 06, 2003 March 07, 2003     NewsRoom Hotlines 234-1-4962136 234-1-4962139 234-803-3074261 Advert Hotlines 234-1-4719288 234-803-7011218 234-802-3125563 Fresh furore over NAFCON workers� terminal benefits By Akanimo Sampson Bureau Chief, Port Harcourt   There seems to be no end to the crisis plaguing the failed National Fertilizer Company of Nigeria (NAFCON), Onne, Rivers State, as the management of the company has alleged a plot by sacked workers of the firm to �burn down� its physical assets. The sacked workers have however countered the management�s claim, saying the allegation is a ploy to either delay or suspend the payment of their terminal benefits.� The allegation and counter-allegation has however fuelled fresh unease in the Onne community, just as there have been heightened undercover security activities within and around the industrial complex. The over 2000 sacked NAFCON workers are accusing the company of unwillingness to pay their �agreed� terminal benefits and other entitlements, claiming that the company has reneged on their �negotiated agreements.� According to the workers, there is a subsisting Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the management and the sacked workers. Daily Independent gathered that on October 8, 2003, the management and the workers agreed that staff contributory pension (provident fund) would be verified and paid by June this year.� It was also agreed that all terminal benefits, including outstanding allowances of the entire staff, would be paid on or before October 31 this year. Before the company raised the fresh alarm it has always reaffirmed its commitment to the terms of the MOU.� The management had always claimed �efforts are being made to ensure that the due dates for the payment of the outstanding allowances, contributory pension and terminal benefits, based on the MOU, are honoured by the government agencies responsible.� The alleged threat to burn down the plant is coming on the heels of a tripartite meeting between the management, the Federal Ministry of Industry and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).� It was reportedly agreed at the meeting that the BPE will immediately verify the staff entitlements in question and, at the same time, source for funds to settle them, with a warning that all concerned should desist from any action that would amount to taking the law into their hands.� But barely days later, the potentially dangerous alarm came, with NAFCON alleging that some �disillusioned disengaged� workers are the brains behind the threat to burn down the plant. One of the articles in the MOU provides that every permanent staff of the company, whose services were disengaged as at December 31, 2002 or July 31, 2003 is entitled to enforce the terms of the MOU in the event that the Federal Government fails to meet its obligation under the MOU. Close watchers of events in the company however claim that the alarm is a veiled move by the management to create obstacles in the process of effecting payment of the workers� terminal benefits. NAFCON was established in 1980 by the Federal Government during the Shehu Shagari administration, although the initiative began under Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo as military Head of State. The company was established with the aim of boosting agricultural production, not only in Nigeria, but also throughout the West African sub-region and beyond.� It was also designed to provide massive employment for Nigerians. Initially, NAFCON was managed by its expatriate partners in conjunction with Nigerian technocrats, who were expected to represent the national interest.� During that period, the fertilizer company reportedly made very encouraging progress, which purportedly convinced its founding fathers that it would realise their dream.� The company during that period employed over 2,300 Nigerians. But the fortunes of the company reportedly began to nose-dive in the late 1980s during the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida administration, when Nigerians took over the driving seat.� The collapsing company finally crashed two years ago. As a result, the workforce was downsized in 2002. Last November, the transition management of the company recalled 300 technical workers mainly from the maintenance department, for the purpose of keeping the plants and machines running, to prevent rust.� The rumour mill around the company has however been awash with claims that some prominent members of the Obasanjo administration are stealthily scheming to buy the firm under the cover of the administration�s controversial privatisation programme. Early last year, the sacked workers had dragged government, BPE and the company to the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, in two suits � FHC/PH/CS/19/2003 AND FHC/PH/CS/48/2003, in which the laid-off workers craved a declaration of the court for the payment of their outstanding salaries, staff contributory pension, other terminal benefits and allowances. At the instance of Abuja, the sacked workers agreed to withdraw the suits in a bid to pave way for dialogue and negotiations, which resulted in the October 8, 2003 MOU. The MOU stipulates inter alia that staff contributory pension would be verified and paid on or before June 30 this year, and that the terminal benefits of the entire workers would be paid on or before October 31, in accordance with the staff conditions of service. Although the company claimed that it could not meet the June 30 obligation due to lack of funds, maintaining that it is still committed to the terms of the MOU,� the sacked workers do not seem to be persuaded.   Copyright� 2004. All Rights Reserved. Independent Newspapers Limited Block5, Plot 7D, Wempco Road, Ogba, P.M.B. 21777, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. www.independentng.com e-mail: [email protected] Designed By Powered By NigeriaNet.

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