By AtemnkengEvaristus in Lobe
 |
Chief MekanyaOkon Charles, IGM
PAMOL Plantation PLC
|
Despite very sustained efforts by the
interim management that have put PAMOL Plantations Plc back on the positive
growth path, it seems a few within the company have refused to see reality in
the face.
The
recent attempts by these few to manipulate workers to go on strike over a
supposedly big bag of money given to the Interim General Manager, IGM, Chief
Mekanya Charles Okon by President Paul Biya to distribute to workers is a clear
indication of intoxication and rumour-peddling intended to rock the harmony and
peace in the company.
An
uneasy atmosphere has hovered over Lobe for the past ten days since last February
16 when some eight staff representatives, all of who are harvesters, in one of
the company’s divisions – Lipenja- decided to down tools and go on an official
strike over unpaid salary increment since March 2015.
Even
though their action did not disrupt company activities such as harvesting and
milling, it nonetheless raised a lot of dust.
The
IGM, who was attending a meeting in Yaoundé, had to rush back to Lobe to assess
the situation.
Before
his arrival, however, the strike by the few workers had been promptly diffused
by leaders of the workers’ union and other management staff on hand who had
told the workers that the reasons for their strike were not founded and that
management had planned to begin paying the accrued increment as from the end of
February 2016 in a phased manner.
The
striking workers claimed that the arrears of the increment were supposed to
have been paid on February 15 but that the IGM was withholding their money.
They were, however, reminded that PAMOL never pays in the middle of the month
but at the end of each month. Since the interim management took over, most
often workers are paid a few days before the month wraps up.
Rumour Offers Pamol Workers Huge Money from
Biya
What
seemed to have fuelled the ‘strike’ or protest by the few was a diabolical
rumour that had made the rounds claiming that President Biya had received the
Interim General Manager, Chief Mekanya Charles, twice and that during the last
audience he allegedly handed a big bag of money to the IGM to come and pay the
pending increment arrears.
Proof
that there was an evil hand behind the actions of the few, a source (Which we
are withholding) had called some media houses, not The SUN, to inform them that
there shall be a big strike action in Lobe on February 16. To their dismay,
there was no serious strike per se but a feeble protest by the few staff
representatives.
Nonetheless,
it must be mentioned that the action by the few had a very marginal effect as work
in Lipenja and Ngolo divisions from where the disgruntled workers emanated,
went on hitch-free.
Sensing
that it was a dangerous rumour that could torpedo the peace in the company,
management decided to open investigations at the level of the gendarmerie in
Lobe. Four workers were held for questioning on February 24.
The
incarceration of the four workers provided a much wanted platform for the
manipulators to use and foment a strike action. They succeeded to an extent as
on Thursday, February 25 a group of 100 workers mostly from Lipenja marched to
Lobe Estate and after blocking the entrance to the mill yard demanded the
release of their colleagues.
Informed
of the situation, the IGM quickly informed the Divisional Officer for
EkondoTiti, Edwin NkenyaNgwana and the Board Chair, Chief NafondaIsohItoh. The
D.O quickly rallied his etat-major who rushed to the scene. In a meeting with
the striking workers at the Kokundu club, the situation was rapidly brought
under control especially as the four workers were conditionally released. In
fact, we learnt the State Counsel is pursuing with the investigations on the
rumour over the alleged presidential largesse.
In
fact in the meeting, while the workers insisted that their grouse was over the
detention of their colleagues, the Divisional Officer reminded the workers that
they were hiding the real cause of their protest which hinges on the rumour of
a presidential largesse.
Edwin
NkenyaNgwana ended on a tough note as he told the workers that his
administration will not tolerate any such disturbance of public order
especially as there is a procedure to follow for any strike action to be
called.
In
a chat with the president of the PAMOL Employees Union, Bongo Jonas Eboka, it
emerged that the Union was not informed of the protest.
Eboka
expressed surprise over the workers’ demand for payment of the increment on
February 15. He said the Union had held numerous sessions with management over
the issue and that at the close of 2015, management had agreed to begin paying
the accrued increment which amounts to close to FCFA 100 million at the end of
February 2016.
The
latest information we got was that the rumour was peddled by a Francophone
worker at the Research department who has been identified and shall help investigators
in the days ahead to get to the bottom of the matter.
No Placards, No Calls for IGM Sacking
It
seems the hidden hands behind the current situation had the intention of
turning the manipulated workers against management especially the Interim General
Manager, Chief Mekanya Charles Okon, who has been managing the company since
the demise of the late GM three years ago.
At
the outset of the protest on February 25, social media was awash with stories
that placard-carrying PAMOL workers had gone on strike demanding the sacking of
the Interim GM. Apparently some detractors of the IGM at the level of the head
office had contacted some media organs
to spread the false information. In our chats with the D.O, the Union
President and workers, they all debunked this side of the story insisting how
the company has been faring better under the current management.
Those
behind the manipulation and intoxication even informed some media that the
workers were asking for 11-months salary arrears which is clearly different
from arrears of salary increment.
Facts
on hand speak of improved company situation which is corroborated by most
workers. The positive situation, according to Felix SeinNdong, acting overseer
in Ngolo Division, who has been in service for the past eight years, is because
PAMOL now has a “square peg in a square hole”. He insists that the protest by
the Lipenja workers was a very restricted matter as those of them in Ngolo had
resolved to not pay attention to the rumours and to concentrate on their work
reason why they have been at their posts all this while.
To
Baba VagariTowaka of Lipenja division the nerve centre of the current
situation, the whole issue is one of misunderstanding and rumours. He said the
protest did not affect work in Lipenja to a great extent.
Pamol Growing Stronger
Going
by credible statistics, Pamol Plantations Plc began the year 2015 with the
objective of making an annual net result of FCFA 272,911,402 (two hundred and
seventy two million, nine hundred and eleven thousand, four hundred and two
francs). Management implemented set strategies to meet this objective. Field
upkeep operations in the plantations were reinforced to acceptable agronomic
standards in order to improve yields and maximize crop production. From January
to October 2015, Pamol made a turnover of about FCFA 4.58 billion as compared
to FCFA 6.93 billion for the full year 2015 exclusive of soap revenue which was
budgeted.
For
the past five years, the production of Fresh Fruit Bunches at Pamol has been
increasing steadily from 2014 because of the measures put in place and the
increase in smallholders’ crop.
An
increase in the price of smallholders’ crop from FCFA 50,000 to FCFA 55,000 per
ton since January 2014, and other accompanying measures like prompt payment on
delivery and assistance in crop evacuation has pushed up the supply of
smallholders’ crop to Pamol.
In
fact, Pamol has witnessed an unprecedented increase since January 2014.
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