Port Harcourt Refinery Workers Threaten Shutdown Over Seven Months’ Unpaid Salaries

Support Staff Union members of the Port Harcourt Refining Company have protested over seven months of unpaid salaries and the alleged failure to implement a new salary structure recently approved by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari.

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

The protesting workers barricaded the entrance of the refinery on Monday, displaying placards and erecting tents at the gate, temporarily disrupting activities at the facility.

The workers alleged that despite the approval by the NNPCL GCEO, the Refinery Coordinator had refused to implement the new salary structure.

The union members said the protest was aimed at drawing attention to what they described as injustice and marginalisation at the refinery, listing four key demands.

Their demands include the immediate implementation of the approved salary structure and remuneration package in line with the applicable approval and effective date; approval of the proposed N1m housing and rent relief for eligible support staff; immediate payment of seven months’ outstanding salaries and other legitimate entitlements; and improved consultation between the Refinery Coordinator, managing directors, relevant management authorities and recognised labour representatives on issues affecting workers’ welfare.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, “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, Support Staff demands that RC must go.”

Other placards read, “Workers deserve dignity: Fair pay is our right” and “Stop the delay, no more postponement.”

Speaking to journalists during the protest, the Chairman of the PHRC Support Staff Union, Bennett Isy, said the new salary structure was expected to take effect on October 1, 2026, but had yet to be implemented.

Isy also expressed concern over the seven months of unpaid salaries and warned that the workers would shut down the facility if their demands were not addressed within 48 hours.

He said, “You cannot tell us that the GCEO of the NNPCL approved something and the 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.

“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 is 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 also lamented the hardship they said they had experienced as a result of the unpaid salaries and the failure to approve the N1m rent relief.

The protesters also called for the removal of the NNPCL Refinery Coordinator, Bayo Adelere.

A female union member, Joy Osueiya, said the workers had rejected a proposal to defer implementation of the new salary structure until January 2027.

She said, “When the RC visited the last time, he said we should wait until January 2027, and we are here to say no. January 2027 is too late.

“Why will the GCEO approve something to be implemented for us on October 1, and the RC will say no? We object to it.”

Osueiya also alleged that workers had suffered serious hardship and workplace-related incidents, saying some employees had lost their lives or suffered injuries while working at the refinery.

She added, “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 support staff member, Godspower Nwakanji, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the dispute.

He said, “We cannot renew our hope in hunger and poverty.

“We cannot renew our hope when there is no medical attention. We have worked for 10 years without medical response.”