MEET FRANK OSHANUGOR
By Frank Oshanugor
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Empower Nigeria has debunked allegations levelled against Seplat Energy Plc and its foreign Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Roger Brown with respect to Nigerian employees of the company.
In a press statement on Wednesday signed by one of its officials; Yemi Aderemi, the NGO which is dedicated to the protection and enhancement of civil liberties said it deemed it fit and proper to wade into the allegations against Brown.
These allegations are bordering on claims of forced resignations and sacking of Nigerian staff based on discriminatory policies, enforcement of manipulative ranking scheme in the company, allegation of different retirement age for Nigerians and expatriates and other sundry claims.
Pursuant to the core mandate of the NGO and in the public interest, officials of the group launched an investigation with the determination to get to the bottom of the issues thrown by these allegations and in the process, unveiled what they have described as the truth.
According to them, “the averments that we make here are therefore a product of our thorough investigation.”
On the claim of forced resignations and sacking of Nigerian staff based on discriminatory policies, the NGO said there was no mass sack or forced retirements of Nigerian at Seplat with Roger Brown as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
“The true state of affairs is that between 2020 and 2022, eight Nigerian staff of the company voluntarily resigned or opted to take early retirement in the exercise of their rights as spelt out and protected by the law. Their decision was conveyed to the management of the company in writing via official channels. Seplat paid the affected staff generous end of service benefits and thereafter made appropriate notifications to NUPRC in accordance with Notification schedule as per their exit.”
With respect to enforcement of manipulative ranking scheme, the NGO found out that the allegation was not supported with facts but rather a “product of a hunting expedition.”
Arising from the observations and input made by the staff on the need to review the former 5-point ranking system which the staff considered to limit opportunities especially around the 75% cut off mark required for promotion, it was discovered that management reviewed and replaced it with a 3-point ranking scheme.
According to findings, the aim of the 3-point scheme (Outstanding Strong and Average) is to ensure that staff rewards are tied to results which are transparent and verifiable. More importantly, it laid to rest staff complaints about the 5-point system which they believed limited opportunities for promotion.
Empower Nigeria also found out in the course of investigation that the claim that the Average rating applied only to Nigerian staff was untrue as out of the 5% of staff (24 persons) ranked Average, the number included an expatriate.
“This is without prejudice to the fact that expatriates constitute a small part of the entire workforce of over 500 workers in the company.”
Similarly, the claim that Seplat operates different retirement age for Nigerian and expatriate staff was “false and a disingenuous ploy to sow seeds of discord among the staff of the company. The retirement policy of the company is not discriminatory but is based on the laws of Nigeria stipulating that all employees working in Nigeria both local and expatriate retire at 60 years. This has been the practice in Seplat since it commenced operations.”
The NGO posited that given the delicate nature of these claims and their implications for industrial harmony, “it is our considered position that news organisations who publicise these allegations should carry out thorough investigation to ascertain the veracity of the claims in matter. This is in the interest of equity, fairness and justice.”
It added that the “non compliance with this basic tenet before exposing Seplat to media trial while it achieves the aim of the sponsors of this orchestrated smear campaign does grave injustice to the noble profession of journalism.”
“Seplat has been an exemplary player within the country’s oil sector. The current attempt to impugn its hard earned reputation is indeed regrettable,” the NGO said.
