Support staff workers at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) in Eleme, Rivers State, have threatened to shut down the facility if management fails to address their grievances over seven months of unpaid salaries and the delayed implementation of a newly approved salary structure.
The workers, under the Support Staff Union of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, staged a protest at the refinery on Monday, barricading the entrance and setting up tents while demanding urgent action from the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
They subsequently issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the new salary structure to be implemented, warning that failure to meet their demands could result in a total shutdown of the facility.
The union said the new remuneration package had been approved by NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari and was expected to take effect from October 1, 2026. However, the workers alleged that the approved structure had not been implemented.
In addition to the salary dispute, the workers are demanding payment of seven months of outstanding wages and other legitimate entitlements.
They are also seeking approval of a ₦1 million housing or rent relief for eligible support staff, as well as improved communication and consultation between management and recognised labour representatives on issues affecting employees’ welfare.
Speaking during the protest, PHRC Support Staff Union Chairman Bennett Isy said the workers would not back down if their demands were not addressed within the stipulated period.
The protesters also called for intervention from the Federal Government over what they described as unfair treatment and marginalisation.
The salary dispute comes amid a difficult period for the Port Harcourt refinery. The facility has faced operational interruptions following a shutdown for maintenance in May 2025, after the NNPCL had announced the resumption of refining activities in late 2024. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority subsequently reported that no production was taking place during the shutdown, although previously produced diesel continued to be evacuated.
Earlier in 2026, workers and contractors linked to the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries had also protested over unpaid wages, indicating that payment and welfare issues have remained a recurring concern among some workers associated with the state-owned refining facilities.
The latest dispute now places additional pressure on PHRC management and NNPCL to resolve the workers’ grievances and prevent further disruption at the facility.
As of the latest reports, the workers’ threatened shutdown remained conditional on the outcome of the 48-hour ultimatum.