Calabar — Exxon Mobil has assured its host communities that it will provide its members with employment opportunities so long as such opportunities were not politicized.

The Ezecutive Director of Exxon Mobil, Mr. Udom Inoyo told newsmen in Calabar, Cross River State, shortly after presenting a paper, "Engaging the Hearts and Minds of Your Employee," at the just concluded Annual National Conference of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN) in Calabar.

Mr Udom Inoyo said the guidelines on employment for servicing companies is a set process of selecting people equitably.

According to him, even though there are large numbers of people gunning for few vacancies, "one thing I must say is that we will give these opportunities to members of the community and it is the responsibility of the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) to ensure that such jobs get to the people."

Continuing, Inoyo said, "to be honest with you, the JLC is not a political vehicle (and) the committee is not a vehicle that people should use to further personal or political interest. The Joint Labour Committee is just a committee that is expected to interface with the contractors and the oil companies to make sure that there is a transparent and equitable process of getting people into the companies to work.

"In a situation where people are only interested in running their selfish agenda with the exclusion of others there will be conflict".

He explained that if the Local Governments cannot resolve the issues that concerns the JLC and employment opportunities, the state needs to wade in because the asset is a National asset and "that is the asset that enables Akwa Ibom State to get 13% derivation fund from the Federation Account and that asset needs to be protected and preserved."

He also commented on the conflict in the Niger Delta, saying there was the need for caution in handling the issue.

His words: "Everybody needs to know that they are all losing if the conflict continues. If all the stakeholders realize that eventually we are all losers including the oil companies, then is it not time for all parties to align with Mr President and focus on resolving the crisis?

"Lets be able to separate the criminals from people who are genuinely interested in developing the Niger Delta region and let us also begin to demonstrate in practical terms and commitments in developing the areas, whether it is the Federal Government development agencies like the NDDC, State Governments or the Local Governments if we are not playing politics with it"