PH Refinery Workers Give NNPCL 48-Hour Ultimatum Over Unpaid Salaries

Support staff at the Port Harcourt Refining Company in Eleme, Rivers State, have given the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited a 48-hour ultimatum to address their grievances or face a total shutdown of the refinery.

The workers staged a protest at the refinery entrance, alleging that they had gone seven months without receiving their salaries.

They also demanded the implementation of a new salary structure which they said was approved by the NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer and was scheduled to take effect from October 1.

The protesting workers are further demanding a proposed ₦1 million housing or rent relief for eligible support staff, as well as improved engagement between management and labour representatives.

The Support Staff Union warned that it would shut down the facility if the demands were not addressed within 48 hours.

The protest temporarily disrupted activities at the refinery, with the workers barricading the entrance and displaying placards outlining their grievances.

The claims and ultimatum were made by the protesting workers. NNPCL management’s response to the allegations was not immediately available.

The development comes as the Port Harcourt refinery remains an important part of Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen domestic petroleum refining capacity.