Support Staff Union members of the Port Harcourt Refining Company have protested the delay in the payment of their seven months’ salaries and the non-implementation of a new salary structure recently approved by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulare.

The workers gave the NNPCL management a 48-hour ultimatum to implement the new salary structure or risk the total shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, located in Eleme, Rivers State.

The protesting workers, who barricaded the entrance of the PHRC on Monday, displayed placards with various inscriptions and also mounted tents in front of the PHRC gate, temporarily disrupting work activities at the complex.

They alleged that after the NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer gave the approval, the Refinery Coordinator had refused to implement it because of his closeness to the Presidency.

The aggrieved union members said the peaceful protest was against what they described as injustice and marginalisation at the refinery and listed four key demands.

The demands Include the implementation of the approved salary structure and remuneration package in accordance with the applicable approval and effective date; approval of the requested N1m housing/rent relief to help alleviate accommodation challenges facing eligible support staff; urgent payment of their seven months’ outstanding salaries and other legitimate entitlements owed to affected workers; as well as improved consultation and effective engagement among the Refinery Coordinator, managing directors, relevant management authorities and recognised labour representatives on matters affecting workers’ welfare.

Some of the inscriptions on their placards included, ‘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 (Refinery Coordinator), Support Staff demands that RC must go’.

Other inscriptions read, ‘Workers deserve dignity: Fair pay is our right’ and ‘Stop the delay, no more postponement’.

Speaking to newsmen during the protest, the Chairman of the PHRC Support Staff Union, Bennett Isy, said the new salary structure was supposed to have taken effect from October 1, 2026, but nothing had been done.

Isy also complained about the seven months’ unpaid salaries and warned that the workers would completely shut down the company if their demands were not met.

He stated, “You cannot tell us that the GCEO of the NNPCL approved something and RC will say no. That is insubordination. It is obvious to mention that there are 800 Gorillas in the room.

“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. RC should stop using the powers of ASO Rock to intimidate workers.

“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’s not implemented in the next 48 hours, to God, we are going to shut down this refinery. Not one soul will gain access to these premises. That I assure you.”

Other protesters who spoke lamented the hardship faced by the workers over the unpaid salaries and non-payment of the N1m rent relief, while demanding the removal of the RC of the NNPCL, Bayo Adelere.

A female union member identified as Joy Osueiya said, “When the RC visited the last time, he said we should wait till January 2027, and we are here to say no. January 2027 is too late.

“While the GCO will approve something to be implemented for us on October 1st and the RC will say no? We object to it. A lot o” 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 alleged that, “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 protesting support staff, Godspower Nwakanji, called on Tinubu to intervene, saying, “We cannot Renew Our Hope in hunger and poverty. We cannot renew our hope when there is no medical attention. We have worked for ten years without medical response.” (The PUNCH)

•Some support staff union members of the Port Harcourt Refining Company protesting seven months of unpaid salaries and the non-implementation of the new salary structure. Photo: Dennis Naku