News

Support Staff Embark On Strike, Shutdown Warri Refinery Over Poor Condition Of Service

Published

12 months ago

May 8, 2025

Editor

Protesting support staff of the Warri Refining & Petrochemical Company (WRPC) in Delta State have embarked on an indefinite strike, shutting down the facility over what they have termed “Poor Condition of Service” by the management of the company.

The staff, who gathered in large numbers, blocked the entrance to the company.

The peaceful protesters, chanting solidarity songs while bearing placards with various inscriptions, also demanded an adjustment to their welfare, which they described as “workplace slavery.”

They vowed to remain at the gate until their demands are met.

The leader of the support staff (WRPC), Dafe Ighomiteso, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, said that the support staff make up 80% of the entire workforce of Warri Refinery. “It’s sad to note that we are here protesting against workplace slavery,” he said.

Ighomiteso mentioned that they have been protesting since 2015, pointing out, “We have a compendium, the workplace. It’s a five-page document which we promised to make available to the public after this briefing.”

According to Ighomiteso, “We’ve been agitating for a single item (good condition of service).”

He said the cleaners who work in the hazardous facility only recently started receiving thirty-four thousand, five hundred naira (#34,500) as their monthly salary.

“For the support staff, the engineers, the technicians, and every technocrat here, only recently, we started receiving ninety thousand naira (#90,000), and the highest is #165,000.”

“We don’t have insurance coverage. None of us here have medical allowance. We are not pensionable. We don’t have transport allowance, we don’t have housing allowance. We don’t have meal allowance, and we are saying here that we are not slaves.”

Ighomiteso added that some of the support staff have been working there for about eighteen (18) years.

“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.”

The support staff pledged their unwavering support for the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in ensuring that the refineries in the country are revived.

Another protester, Innocent Ileleji, a cleaner/gardener, corroborated Ighomiteso’s position, saying, “We are being paid thirty-four thousand, five hundred (#34,500) naira.” He added that all they wanted was a review of their salary, which they were promised in 2013.

Ileleji noted that some of them, cleaners/gardeners, are being owed their meager salaries, which cannot take care of their families. He stressed, “The amount they’re paying us is far too small. Management should look into it.”

Elohor Poko, a support staff member who also spoke with our correspondent, said their salaries are very, very poor. She called on the General Chief Officer (GCO) to look into the matter and consider their plight by taking positive actions to improve their welfare.

A source within WRPC, who wished to remain anonymous, said that all the components of the plant are down due to ongoing maintenance.

It was noted that only the Turbine Unit of the plant is working, just to keep hope alive in the facility.

He also mentioned that the refinery is 60% completed.

All efforts to get the management of WRPC to speak on the matter were unsuccessful, as they refused to comment on the issue.

(Daily Post)

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

13 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

18 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

19 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.