Strike: Warri refinery support staff shut down operations over ‘workplace slavery’, poor conditions
On Thursday, May 8, support staff at the Warri Refining & Petrochemical Company (WRPC) in Delta State launched an indefinite strike, shutting down the facility and blocking its entrance in protest of what they described as “workplace slavery” and decades of neglect by management.
Chanting solidarity songs and holding signs, the protesters vowed to remain at the gates until their demands are addressed, citing low wages, lack of benefits, and years of broken promises.
“It’s sad to note that we are here protesting against workplace slavery,”
said Dafe Ighomiteso, the protest leader, adding that support staff make up 80% of the refinery’s workforce.
He explained that many workers had been agitating for better conditions since 2015, but little has changed. Ighomiteso detailed that cleaners at the hazardous site only recently began receiving a salary of ₦34,500 per month, while skilled technicians and engineers receive between ₦90,000 and ₦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,”
he declared.
‘Even the nation forbids casualisation’
The workers allege they have been stuck in casual roles for up to 18 years, with no career progression or job security—despite Nigerian labour laws opposing such prolonged casualisation. Ighomiteso called on authorities to align WRPC’s support staff conditions with those across other units under the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
“We are not asking to be paid what their permanent staff earn,” he said. “But we deserve fair and decent compensation, especially in a high-risk, high-value industry like oil and gas.”
Support staff member Innocent Ileleji, a cleaner/gardener, reinforced the call for a wage review, saying even the meagre ₦34,500 salary promised in 2013 has been delayed or unpaid in some cases.
“The amount they’re paying us is far too small. Management should look into it,”
Ileleji said.
Another protester, Elohor Poko, urged the General Chief Officer (GCO) to intervene, describing their current welfare as “very, very poor.”
Refinery largely inactive amid protest
An internal source at WRPC, who asked to remain anonymous, revealed that most plant components are already shut down due to ongoing maintenance, with only the Turbine Unit operational to “keep hope alive.” The refinery is reportedly 60% complete in its current revival efforts.
While the protesting workers affirmed their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s refinery revitalization agenda, they stressed that their livelihoods must also be part of that transformation.
Despite repeated attempts, WRPC management declined to comment on the ongoing strike.
