PH refinery workers protest seven months’ unpaid salaries, threaten shutdown

Workers at the Port Harcourt Refining Company have protested over seven months of unpaid salaries and threatened to shut down the facility if their demands are not addressed within 48 hours.

The protesting employees, under the aegis of the Support Staff Union of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, also accused management of failing to implement a newly approved salary structure and remuneration package.

The workers barricaded the entrance to the refinery in Rivers State, erected tents at the gate and displayed placards demanding action on their grievances.

Some of the placards read: “No more empty promises, January 2027 is too far to implement new salary structure,” “Refinery Coordinator must go,” and “Approved by GCEO on 1st October, rejected by RC. Support Staff demands that RC must go”.

The workers alleged that Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, had approved the new salary structure for support staff, but that the refinery coordinator was yet to implement the directive.

They described the demonstration as a peaceful protest against what they termed “injustice” and “marginalisation”.

The union listed four demands: immediate implementation of the approved salary structure, payment of seven months’ salary arrears, approval of a N1 million housing and rent relief package, and improved engagement between management and labour representatives on workers’ welfare.

Speaking during the protest, the chairman of the PHRC Support Staff Union, Bennett Isy, questioned why the directive allegedly approved by the NNPC leadership had not been implemented.

“You cannot tell us that the GCEO of the NNPC approved something and the RC will say no. That is insubordination,” Isy said.

“We know the forces that are backing the RC, and because of that, we are calling on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to call the RC to order.”

Isy also alleged that workers had been subjected to “intimidation”, saying the union would continue to pursue its demands through due process.

“We are saying that we are not backing down. We are following all due process to ensure that what rightly belongs to us gets to us. But if it is not implemented in the next 48 hours, to God, we are going to shut down this refinery,” Isy said.

“Not one soul will gain access to these premises. That I assure you.”

One of the protesters, Joy Osueiya, said workers had rejected a proposal to defer implementation of the new salary structure until January 2027.

“When the RC visited the last time, he said we should wait until January 2027, and we are here to say no. January 2027 is too late,” she said.

“Why will the GCEO approve something to be implemented for us on October 1, and the RC will say no? We object to it.”

Osueiya also raised concerns about the working conditions at the refinery, alleging that employees had suffered injuries, health problems and fatalities while working at the facility.

“A lot of us have lost loved ones in this refinery. Some of our men cannot even impregnate their wives again. Some of our colleagues have lost their lives here,” she said.

“Some have lost their arms because of how hazardous the place is. So we are here to say no. Enough is enough. Implement it now.”

Another worker, Godspower Nwakanji, appealed to President Tinubu to intervene in the dispute, citing the economic hardship being experienced by employees.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company