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PORT HARCOURT REFINERY WORKERS THREATEN SHUTDOWN OVER UNPAID SALARIES
Workers at the Port Harcourt Refining Company have threatened to shut down the facility if their outstanding salaries and a newly approved salary stru...
By Wavers News
Port Harcourt refinery workers threaten shutdown over unpaid salaries
Members of the refinery’s Support Staff Union staged a protest at the facility in Eleme, Rivers State, demanding payment of seven months of unpaid salaries and implementation of a new remuneration package.
WORKERS PROTEST AT REFINERY
The protesting workers barricaded the entrance to the refinery and erected tents at the gate, temporarily disrupting activities at the complex.
The workers said the new salary structure had been approved by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, but had not been implemented by the refinery management.
According to the workers, the approved structure was expected to take effect from October 1, 2026.
SEVEN MONTHS OF SALARY ARREARS
The union said affected workers were owed seven months of salaries, alongside other outstanding entitlements.
They also demanded the implementation of a ₦1 million housing or rent relief package for eligible support staff.
Other demands included improved consultation between refinery management and recognised labour representatives on matters affecting employees.
WORKERS ISSUE 48-HOUR ULTIMATUM
The union chairman, Bennett Isy, said the workers would continue to pursue their demands through due process but warned that the refinery could face a total shutdown if the issues were not resolved within 48 hours.
The workers also called for the intervention of President Bola Tinubu in the dispute.
Some of the protesters said the prolonged non-payment of salaries had created serious financial difficulties for employees and their families.
DISPUTE CENTRES ON WORKERS’ WELFARE
The protest comes as the Port Harcourt refinery remains part of Nigeria’s wider efforts to restore domestic refining capacity and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.
The current dispute, however, centres on employment conditions, salary arrears and the implementation of the approved remuneration package.
The threatened shutdown could disrupt activities at the facility if the disagreement is not resolved within the period given by the workers.