Deliberate Dispute: Support Staff at Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) Strike Over Unsatisfactory Work Conditions
Workers at Warri Refinery Initiate Permanent Stoppage Due to Alleged Exploitative Labor Conditions
These days, the workers at Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) in Delta State, Nigeria have taken their discontent to the streets, staging an indefinite strike due to appalling working conditions and alleged indifference from management.
Bolstered by solidarity chants, the protesters blockaded access to the refinery while brandishing placards emblazoned with their grievances. The displaced workers refuse to budge until their demands are addressed, as indicated by their representative, Dafe Ighomiteso.
Ighomiteso, who leads the disgruntled support staff, announced that they constitute 80% of WRPC's workforce. With grit in his voice, he condemned the deplorable working conditions at the plant, likening it to a form of modern-day slavery.
The impetus behind their strike dates back to 2015, as the support staff have been diligently compiling evidence against the management in the form of a five-page document containing their grievances. "We have a compendium," Ighomiteso stated. "It's a five-page document which we promised to make available to the public after this briefing."
Despite the passage of years and multiple promises for improvements, the workers' core demand has remained consistent – a fair and reasonable compensation package representative of their skills and contributions.
Ighomiteso revealed that even the lowest-ranking staff, such as cleaners, were only recently granted a meager ₦34,500 monthly salary, while engineers, technicians, and other technical staff had to wait for the salary floor to slowly rise to ₦90,000, with the highest wage not exceeding ₦165,000.
Clamoring for more than mere survival wages, Ighomiteso lamented that besides suffering in silence for years, the employees had to contend with the absence of basic benefits including health insurance, medical allowances, retirement plans, transportation allowances, housing allowances, and meal allowances.
Having endured so much for so long, Ighomiteso protested, "We are not asking that we should be paid what they're paying their staff, but we are saying that what's commensurate to the support staff of all the SBUs and CSUs of NNPC should be considered, especially in the oil and gas industry. We are supposed to be protesting against casualization, but it's unfortunate that nobody wants to cry for us. Even the nation forbids casualization, but nobody is speaking for us."
Despite their displeasure, the workers expressed support for the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and their attempts to revitalize Nigeria's refineries. Member Innocent Ileleji, who serves as a cleaner and gardener, confirmed the ₦34,500 monthly salary and voiced his frustration, stating, "The amount they're paying us is far too small. Management should look into it."
Elohor Poko, another staff member, echoed the sentiments of her colleagues, denouncing the poor wages while emphasizing their dissatisfaction. "Their salaries are very, very poor," she reiterated.
It's worth noting that recent developments, such as a facility shutdown on January 25, 2025, due to safety concerns related to the CDU Main Heater, and allegations of a $3 billion refinery fraud involving significant financial irregularities[3][4], may contribute to the tense labor environment at WRPC. However, specific responses from management regarding the strike's demands are currently not reported.
On a broader note, the ongoing labor unrest underscores the need for fair compensation and benefits for the workers in the oil and gas industry, as well as a renewed focus on eradicating worker casualization in Nigeria.
- Amidst rising discontent, the support staff at Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) in Delta State, Nigeria, are protesting, staging an indefinite strike due to unsatisfactory work conditions and alleged indifference from management.
- Dafe Ighomiteso, the representative leading the disgruntled staff, stated that they constitute 80% of WRPC's workforce and have a five-page document detailing their grievances.
- Despite years passing and promises for improvements, the workers' core demand remains consistent – a fair and reasonable compensation package representative of their skills and contributions.
- According to Ighomiteso, while engineers, technicians, and other technical staff are now earning ₦90,000 monthly, the lowest-ranking staff like cleaners were only recently granted a meager ₦34,500 salary.
- Ighomiteso voiced the staff's concerns, stating that they endure not only low wages but also the absence of basic benefits such as health insurance, medical allowances, retirement plans, transportation allowances, housing allowances, and meal allowances.
- Despite suffering for years in silence, Ighomiteso protested that they are asking for fair treatment in line with support staff of other SBUs and CSUs of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), particularly in the oil and gas industry.
- Member Innocent Ileleji expressed support for the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while voicing frustration over the ₦34,500 monthly salary, emphasizing the need for management to address the issue.
