Scores of support workers at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) in Delta State grounded operations at the facility on Monday, protesting the management’s failure to improve their remuneration and welfare.
The workers had issued a warning two weeks earlier, threatening a total shutdown if their demands were not met. Branding their treatment as “workplace slavery,” they carried placards with messages such as: *“Our salary can no longer take us home,”* *“WRPC paying our cleaners salary of N34,500 is wicked and evil,”* and *“Give us good condition of service, we played major role in the Quick-Fix.”* Other inscriptions included *“WRPC mngt are wicked”* and *“Enough of promise and fail.”*
Dafe Ighomitedo, the Lead Representative of the Support Staff, told journalists: *“We are here protesting workplace slavery. This struggle has been since 2015. We have undergone a series of protests, all to no avail. At every point in time, we always have listening ears based on the promises of the management. Unfortunately, management will always come with one scheme or the other. All we are asking for is the condition of service.”*
He lamented the poor pay structure, stating: *“It is sad to note that the highest paid support staff in WRPC receive N164,000, while the least receive N90,000. Our cleaners receive N34,000.”*
Despite appeals from the Acting Managing Director to suspend the protest, the workers remained resolute. Ighomitedo explained: *“But frustratingly as we have been, the backup said trust has been broken because it has lingered for too long. They wanted more time and we resolved that we would remain at the gate, pending when they are through with what they are doing. We will be here waiting to hear them.”*
He vowed: *“As we speak right now, nobody is going in, all contractors are not allowed to go in until we get what we want. And we are willing to stay here till next week, until management attends to us.”*
Ighomitedo also disclosed that while there was no official communication from top management in Abuja, *“reports have it that they were aware of the development and consultations were ongoing between local and the top management.”*
Another protesting worker added: *“The shutdown of WRPC is over the failure of NNPC and WRPC management to provide improved condition of service. For over 10 years, we have been on the negotiation table. Now the plant has been shutdown. The proposed start-up this month is no longer feasible. The support staff make up 70 per cent of the workforce.”*
As of the time of filing this report, responses were still being awaited from WRPC management.
