Akwa Ibom people working at Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Ltd, and Sterling Petrochemicals and Fertilizers Ltd Ikot Abasi and Mkpat Enin Local Government Areas, with parent company known as Sterling Global, have decried ill treatments and marginalization.
Some Akwa Ibomites who are contract workers in the two companies but tagged by the Indians as “local contracts”, have disclosed how they are being treated as slaves with all known Nigerian Labour laws broken.
Some staff of the company who did not want their names mentioned shared their different experiences with the company which keep exposing them to danger daily.
Findings indicate that the two companies have been in operation for almost five years without leave, rest or time off for workers.
Reports have it that even when workers are sick and receiving treatment in the company’s clinic, they are still expected to go back to work or be booked absent.
Some of the workers disclosed that there is no good staff vehicles for workers. According to them, “we climb truck buckets, low beds, open vans and containers to work and same when coming back.
“We are asked to work 9 hours a day for four hundred naira (₦400) per hour as workman and three hundred naira (₦300) per hour as helper under pressure in a terrible work environment.
“We are not allowed to observe public holidays, on Sundays, we are booked half day while our colleagues in Lagos and community contacts receive double pay. We look hungry,, tattered and without proper PPE. There is nothing like go time or sick leave.
“These unfair treatments have caused our people not to work as a team which result in Daily Threats, Intimidation and Humiliation in the workplace.
“Since we don’t have people to speak for us at Sterling Petrochemicals and Fertilizers Ltd (SPFL),we have trust in Governor Umoh Eno and we believe he will never fail to protect us.
“We just to want tell the state government that we are tired of the slavery, manipulation and forced labour meted out to us by the Indians in our promised land.”
Responding to the allegations, the Media Manager of the company in Akwa Ibom state, Uduak Ekpo described the allegations as untrue arguing that the company considers workers’ welfare as a top priority.
“Sterling Petrochemicals and Fertilizer Limited (SPFL) takes the health, safety, and welfare of all its employees very seriously. We strictly follow safety standards at all times and provide medical care to every worker. We also prioritize employee welfare and continuously take steps to maintain a fair, supportive, and respectful work environment for all.” Uduak Ekpo said.
She added that Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) is given to staff when employed and subsequently given yearly to staff whose contracts are renewed.
Meanwhile, the workers pointed accusing fingers on the Head of Protocol of the company, Mr. Sam Osung for allegedly undermining the interest of Akwa Ibom people in the company.
They revealed that Sterling Global would have treated workers from Akwa Ibom well but for the alleged support of Sam Osung.
“Sam Osung is the one going around telling those Indians that they should not mind us as we cannot do anything.”
It can be recalled that the said Sam Osung was sacked as Media Aide to the Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno over alleged sabotage of government’s efforts in resolving crisis in the petroleum sector.
Sam Osung is also said to be in charge of supply of diesel in the company.
“ Except Sam Osung is either tamed or replaced, Akwa Ibom workers in Sterling Global will continue to suffer”, one of the workers said.
When contacted by the newspaper, Mr. Sam Osung, instead of responding to the allegations, threatened to sue anybody who publishes a story against him without proof.
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