The protest by support staff at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, entered its sixth day on Friday. The demonstrators, who are casual employees of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), accused influential figures within the oil and gas industry of deliberately obstructing efforts to revive the country’s refineries.
The aggrieved workers have vowed to sustain the protest until their demands — including improved welfare and official recognition as “critical staff” — are met. They insisted that the Warri refinery would remain non-operational unless NNPCL’s top management approved better working conditions.
“We’ve been here since Monday and we’re not backing down,” said the group’s spokesperson, Dafe Ighomitedo. “Management claims they’re awaiting approval from Abuja, but we believe there are vested interests sabotaging President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda for the oil sector.”
Ighomitedo expressed frustration over their treatment, noting that despite dedicating their most productive years to the refinery, their salaries remain meager. He appealed to the new NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Ojulari, to urgently address their grievances and put an end to what he described as a “needless embarrassment” to the nation.
“Our families are suffering. The pay gap between us and permanent staff is massive. We’re not leaving this site until we see concrete action,” he declared.
He called on the GCEO to prioritize the welfare of casual workers in his reform plans, labeling their current status as akin to “slave labor.” Ighomitedo also urged stakeholders and concerned Nigerians to support their cause.
“No matter how much is spent on revamping the refinery, it won’t function without this workforce,” he warned.
He added that the protest should not come as a surprise to WRPC management, noting that prior warnings had been ignored.