Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Workers at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) in Rivers State have threatened to shut down the facility if the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited fails to address their grievances over seven months of unpaid salaries and the delayed implementation of a new salary structure.
Members of the PHRC Support Staff Union staged a protest at the refinery in Eleme on Monday, October 5, 2026, barricading the entrance and erecting tents at the facility.
The workers said their action was prompted by what they described as prolonged neglect of their welfare, particularly the non-payment of salaries and the failure to implement a new remuneration package.
According to the union, NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, had approved the new salary structure with effect from October 1, 2026. The workers, however, alleged that the Refinery Coordinator, Bayo Adelere, had not implemented the approval.
The protesters consequently issued a 48-hour ultimatum to NNPCL management, warning that they would completely shut down the refinery if their demands were not met within the period.
Chairman of the PHRC Support Staff Union, Bennett Isy, said the workers were demanding the immediate implementation of the approved salary structure and the payment of their seven months’ outstanding salaries and other legitimate entitlements.
They are also demanding a one-off N1 million housing or rent relief for eligible support staff and improved consultation between refinery management and recognised labour representatives on issues affecting their welfare.
The workers displayed placards expressing their dissatisfaction with the situation, including calls for the Refinery Coordinator to leave office and demands that the approved salary structure be implemented without further delay.
The union said some workers had been asked to wait until January 2027 for the implementation of the new salary arrangement, a proposal they rejected, insisting that the reported approval specified October 1, 2026 as the effective date.
Isy appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the dispute and ensure that the workers’ concerns were addressed.
Other members of the union also complained about difficulties arising from the prolonged non-payment of salaries and what they described as inadequate welfare and medical support.
The protest temporarily disrupted activities at the refinery, according to reports. The workers’ threatened shutdown, however, remains conditional on whether NNPCL management resolves their demands within the 48-hour period.
As of the latest reports, NNPCL management had not publicly responded to the workers’ ultimatum or the allegations concerning the implementation of the new salary structure.
The development adds pressure on the management of the state-owned refinery, with the workers warning that failure to resolve the dispute could lead to a complete shutdown of the facility.
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