Port Harcourt Refinery Workers Threaten Shutdown Over Seven Months’ Unpaid Salaries
Workers at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) in Rivers State have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to management over unpaid salaries and the delayed implementation of a new remuneration package.
The support staff, who staged a protest at the refinery in Eleme, warned that they could shut down the facility completely if their demands are not addressed within the deadline.
The workers reportedly barricaded the refinery entrance and erected tents during the protest, temporarily disrupting activities at the facility.
At the centre of their grievance is the alleged non-payment of seven months’ salaries, alongside the failure to implement a new salary structure which the workers said had been approved by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari.
According to the union, the new salary structure was expected to take effect from October 1, 2026. However, the workers alleged that the Refinery Coordinator, Bayo Adelere, had not implemented the approved package and had instead asked them to wait until January 2027.
Workers List Key Demands
The PHRC Support Staff Union presented several demands, including the immediate implementation of the approved salary structure and payment of all outstanding wages and legitimate entitlements.
The workers are also requesting N1 million in housing or rent relief for eligible support staff to ease accommodation difficulties.
They further called for better communication between refinery management and recognised labour representatives, particularly on issues relating to staff welfare and working conditions.
Union Chairman Bennett Isy said the workers had exhausted their patience and would take further action if management failed to resolve the issues within the 48-hour period.
The protesters also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the dispute.
Safety and Welfare Concerns
Beyond the salary arrears, some employees raised concerns about working conditions at the refinery, including access to healthcare and safety.
One of the protesting workers, Joy Osueiya, said employees had faced serious difficulties while working at the facility and rejected suggestions that they should wait until January before receiving the new remuneration package.
Another worker, Godspower Nwakanji, appealed for government intervention, saying workers could not continue to cope with financial hardship while also facing inadequate welfare support.
Pressure Mounts on Port Harcourt Refinery
The latest dispute adds another challenge to the Port Harcourt refinery, which has been at the centre of renewed efforts by the Federal Government to restore Nigeria’s state-owned refining capacity.
Earlier in 2026, NNPCL Group CEO Bayo Ojulari said the company had reviewed the performance of the country’s refineries and concluded that previous operations had resulted in significant value losses and financial pressure.
With the workers now threatening to shut the facility, attention is likely to turn to NNPCL management and other government authorities to resolve the salary and welfare dispute before it escalates into a wider disruption.
As of the latest reports, the threatened shutdown remained conditional on whether the workers’ demands would be met within the 48-hour ultimatum.
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