Protesting support staff at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) in Delta State have shut down the entire refinery operation as they commenced an indefinite strike over what they describe as inhumane and degrading work conditions.
On Wednesday, the protesting workers, made up mostly of technicians, engineers, cleaners, and other contract staff, gathered at the main entrance of the refinery to express their grievances. They were seen holding placards and singing solidarity songs, insisting that they would not return to work until their demands were addressed.
Dafe Ighomiteso, the leader of the protesting support staff, told DAILY POST that these workers form about 80 percent of WRPC’s entire workforce. Speaking on their behalf, he said, “It’s sad to note that we are here protesting against workplace slavery.”
According to him, many of them have been agitating for better work conditions since 2015.
“We’ve been agitating for a single item (good condition of service),” Ighomiteso stated. He revealed that the support workers, who often perform critical duties in hazardous areas of the refinery, receive as little as ₦34,500 monthly. The highest-paid among them reportedly earns only ₦165,000, with no health insurance, transport allowance, housing support, or pension benefits.
“These are people who have been working here for over 18 years,” Ighomiteso added. “We are not asking for what the main staff earn, but something fair, similar to what support staff in other NNPC subsidiaries receive.”
Another protester, Innocent Ileleji, who works as a cleaner and gardener, echoed Ighomiteso’s concerns. “We are being paid thirty-four thousand, five hundred (#34,500) naira,” he said. He recalled that in 2013, they were promised a salary review, but nothing has changed since then. “Some of us are still being owed these small salaries,” he noted.
Elohor Poko, another support staff member, called on the General Chief Officer to intervene and resolve the issue quickly. She said their earnings cannot cover basic needs, and the workers feel abandoned.
A staff source within WRPC, speaking anonymously, noted that apart from the Turbine Unit, all other parts of the refinery have gone silent, as ongoing maintenance and now the protest have stalled operations. He added that the plant is only about 60 percent completed, making the timing of the strike even more critical.
The support staff, however, pledged support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of reviving Nigeria’s refineries, stating that their actions are in line with ensuring that workers behind the scenes are treated fairly.
