Support staff of the Port Harcourt Refining Company in Nigeria have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. The workers, under the PHRC Support Staff Union, are demanding payment of seven months of unpaid salaries and implementation of a newly approved salary structure. They warned that they would shut down the refinery completely if their demands were not addressed within the ultimatum. The protest took place at the refinery in Eleme, Rivers State, where workers barricaded the entrance and displayed placards.
The workers alleged that the NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, had approved a new salary structure for them, effective October 1, 2026. However, the Refinery Coordinator had failed to implement the approved structure, instead asking workers to wait until January 2027. The protesters rejected the proposed delay, insisting that the approved remuneration should take effect immediately. The union is demanding implementation of the new salary structure and remuneration package in line with the approval and effective date.
The workers also demanded immediate payment of seven months of outstanding salaries and other legitimate entitlements allegedly owed to affected support staff. They requested a ₦1 million housing or rent relief for eligible workers to help ease accommodation challenges. Improved consultation between the Refinery Coordinator, managing directors, and recognised labour representatives on issues affecting workers' welfare was another demand. Placards displayed during the protest included messages such as "No more empty promises, January 2027 is too far to implement new salary structure".
The Chairman of the PHRC Support Staff Union, Bennett Isy, said during the protest that workers would not back down until their demands were addressed. Isy questioned why an approval by the NNPCL GCEO could be delayed at the refinery level. He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and warned that workers would block access to the facility if the salary structure was not implemented within 48 hours. "We are saying that we are not backing down," Isy said.
Some protesters raised concerns about working conditions and access to medical care. A female support staff member, Joy Osueiya, alleged that some workers had suffered serious health consequences and injuries while working at the refinery. She claimed that some colleagues had lost their lives and that workers had been affected by hazardous conditions at the facility. Another worker, Godspower Nwakanji, appealed to the President to intervene, citing struggles with hunger, poverty, and inadequate medical support.
The workers' allegations and ultimatum had not been accompanied by a public response from the NNPCL or the Refinery Coordinator. The planned shutdown would potentially disrupt activities at the Port Harcourt refinery if the dispute remains unresolved after the 48-hour deadline. The workers said they were pursuing the matter through due process while insisting that the approved salary structure, outstanding wages, and other welfare demands must be addressed.
The dispute highlights the challenges faced by workers in Nigeria's oil and gas industry. The Port Harcourt refinery is a critical facility for the country's energy sector. The workers' demands have been ongoing for several months, with no resolution in sight. The situation remains tense as the 48-hour ultimatum approaches.
Key points
- Workers at the Port Harcourt Refining Company have issued a 48-hour ultimatum over unpaid salaries and delayed implementation of a new salary structure.
- The workers are demanding payment of seven months of outstanding salaries and implementation of the approved salary structure effective October 1, 2026.
- A shutdown of the refinery would potentially disrupt activities in Nigeria's energy sector if the dispute remains unresolved.
