Support staff at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) in Eleme, Rivers State, have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over seven months of unpaid salaries and the delayed implementation of a new salary structure.
The workers, operating under the Support Staff Union of PHRC, staged a protest at the refinery on Monday, barricading the entrance and setting up tents at the facility.
They accused the management of failing to implement a new remuneration package which they said had been approved by the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari.
According to the workers, the new salary structure was scheduled to take effect from October 1, 2026, but has yet to be implemented.
The union warned that failure to resolve the matter within 48 hours would lead to a complete shutdown of the refinery.
Speaking during the protest, Chairman of the PHRC Support Staff Union, Bennett Isy, said the workers were no longer willing to accept further delays.
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the dispute and ensure that the workers’ concerns are addressed.
The protesters also presented several demands, including the immediate implementation of the approved salary structure and remuneration package, payment of seven months of outstanding wages and other entitlements, and approval of a ₦1 million housing or rent relief for eligible support staff.
They further demanded improved communication and consultation between refinery management and recognised labour representatives on issues concerning workers’ welfare.
The workers expressed frustration over reports that implementation of the new salary structure could be delayed until January 2027, insisting that such a timeline was unacceptable.
One of the protesters, Joy Osueiya, said employees had endured significant hardship because of the prolonged salary delay. She also raised concerns about working conditions and alleged that some workers had suffered serious injuries while others had lost their lives at the facility.
Another support staff member, Godspower Nwakanji, appealed for presidential intervention, citing the financial difficulties workers were facing as a result of the unpaid salaries and concerns over access to medical care.
The protesters also called for the removal of the refinery’s coordinator, whom they accused of failing to implement the approved salary package.
The development adds to concerns surrounding the Port Harcourt refinery, which remains shut for maintenance. The labour dispute could create additional pressure on NNPCL as it works to address operational and administrative challenges at the facility.
As of the latest reports, the workers’ threatened shutdown remains conditional on whether their demands are addressed within the 48-hour deadline.
