WRPC Protest: Workers Allow Skeletal Operations After Until Friday

Protesting support staff of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) have given the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) until Friday, October 30, to address their grievances or face a blockade of the refinery's entrance and exit.

The workers softened their protest on Wednesday, October 28, allowing skeletal activities at the facility following reported intervention by the Executive Vice President, Downstream, NNPCL, Dr Mumuni Dagazau.

However, a protesting staff member, in a video made available to Warri Sentinel warned that the temporary relaxation would not prevent an escalation if the workers' demands remained unresolved.

“If by Friday, October 30, nothing concrete is gotten from the EVP, entrance to Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, will be barricaded, preventing entry and exit,” the worker said.

The protest centres on the workers' employment status and related grievances.

Lead representative of the support staff, Dafe Ighomitedo, had accused the refinery coordinator, Engr. Bayo Adenrele, of describing them as outsourced personnel, despite their claim that they were directly employed.

Ighomitedo urged Dagazau to intervene, accusing Adenrele of “rubbishing his office and staining the image” of NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Bayo Ojulari.

With the Friday deadline approaching, the workers are awaiting a concrete response from the NNPCL leadership, warning that failure to address their concerns could disrupt access to the refinery.

Recall that the latest protest started on October 5, after years of failed assurances by the NNPCL management to address the workers' plight.