The protest by casual workers at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company has entered its sixth consecutive day, with employees vowing to continue their demonstration until the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited addresses their demands for better working conditions and official recognition as “critical staff.”
The aggrieved workers, who have maintained a blockade at the refinery since Monday, allege that powerful interests in the oil sector are deliberately undermining efforts to revive Nigeria’s refining capacity. Their protest has brought operations at the facility to a standstill.
Dafe Ighomitedo, the lead spokesperson for the protesters, articulated their frustrations during a press briefing at the protest site.
“We’ve been here since Monday, and we’re determined to stay. Management says they’re waiting for approval from Abuja. But we suspect there are forces working to derail President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda for the oil sector,” Ighomitedo stated.
He highlighted the stark disparity in wages between casual and permanent staff, describing the situation as exploitative.
“We’ve dedicated our youthful and productive years to keeping this refinery afloat, yet our salaries have been peanuts. Our families are suffering. There’s a huge disparity between our pay and that of permanent staff. We won’t leave this protest site until we see what has been approved for us,” he declared.
The workers directed their plea to NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Ojulari, urging him to intervene and address their long-standing grievances.
Ighomitedo appealed to Ojulari to include casual workers’ welfare in his reform agenda, describing them as “slave workers” who deserve fair treatment. He warned that without resolving their concerns, the refinery’s revival efforts would remain futile.
“Without this workforce, no matter how many billions of dollars are spent on the refinery, there will be no result,” he cautioned.
The protest did not come as a surprise to WRPC management, according to Ighomitedo, who revealed that workers had repeatedly raised concerns before resorting to industrial action.
“We had previously threatened to take action but were ignored. Now, we are here to demand what is rightfully ours,” he said.
The protesters also called on stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to support their cause, emphasizing that their fight is not just for better pay but for dignity and recognition as essential contributors to Nigeria’s oil sector.
The prolonged protest raises concerns about the state of Nigeria’s refineries and the broader challenges in the oil and gas sector. Despite government promises to revitalize domestic refining capacity, operational inefficiencies and labor disputes continue to hinder progress.
