The importance of personal integrity at work can never be overstated. As ambassadors of Total Upstream in Nigeria, each of our employees must maintain a high level of honesty and integrity in all transactions and actions that could in any way reflect on our company.

Our company's good reputation was established and is reinforced everyday by the actions of our staff. This reputation is based largely on the collective and individual actions of our employees: their work performance will often be perceived as either the actions of Total or as reflecting positively or negatively on the company.

Compliance with the law

Employees must strictly adhere to all laws and regulations of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the first instance, and secondarily to the regulations and instructions of Total and its Nigeria subsidiaries that affect their areas of operation.

Abuse of office

Employees shall not abuse their office or take any action that may be interpreted as an attempt to benefit from their positions. Abuse of office includes but is not limited to the following:

• Any attempt by employees to use their positions within the company for personal gains.

• The use of Company funds or assets for unauthorised, improper or personal use.

• Exertion of influence over contractors to the benefit of employees.

• The offering, payment, soliciting or acceptance of bribes in any form.

• The use of office time to conduct the employee's personal business

• Any attempt by employee(s) to cover up any impropriety by others in connection with the company's business.

Conflict of interest

Professional excellence can only be maintained by a culture of honesty, integrity and fairness. Employees must, therefore avoid a conflict between their role in the conduct of the company's business and their private activities. Where such conflict exists, employees must fully disclose all facts to the company through their manager.

Accepting gifts or free services

The acceptance of gifts or gratuitous services from contractors which have business dealings with Total and which could place an employee in a position where his independent business judgement may be prejudiced is forbidden. Minor corporate gifts may be accepted. All offers of gifts or gratuitous services (whether accepted or rejected) must be reported. In no case should the employee or his family solicit gifts or gratuitous services from companies currently doing, having done, or planning to do business with Total. Inducements (bribes and dash) are at all times unacceptable and should be reported immediately to the employee's manager. Acceptance, directly or indirectly, of payments, services or loans from a supplier, contractor, sub contractor or other third parties is forbidden.

Offering gifts

Business gift-giving spreads goodwill. The British Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) characterises it as the "consolidation of a business relationship with the main beneficiary being the organisation". It is important that the company manages this function effectively because it could be open to abuse.

				Employee guidelines for gift policy Gifts should be used to: Establish and consolidate critical business relationships with people like the government, traditional rulers, journalists and diplomatic corps. Maintain visibility by giving keepsakes to visitors as a tangible reminder of the company. Thank clients for their business. Improve and soften our company's image by giving a personal touch. Reward and give staff incentives to improve morale and loyalty. Recognise employees at the time of their retirement for their performance Recognise employees for length of service.

The value and procedure for managing gifts are subject to company procedures.