Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Aggrieved workers of NPDC/NECONDE joint venture, operators of OML42, at the weekend peacefully protested against unpaid salaries, unfriendly working conditions and appointment without employment letters.
The protesting workers from eight different contracting firms, barricaded the entrance of NPDC/Neconde yard in Warri, Delta State, with placards bearing different inscriptions such as, “workers welfare should be paramount”, “we want salary review,” “end to workers’ slavery” among others.
The protesters claimed that they have not received their salaries for over eight months, accusing NPDC/Neconde JV of declining to pay the different contractors, zero welfare for staff, adding that bonuses of over 13 months and other emoluments were still pending.
One of the protesters who gave his name as Ayodeji Oluyinde, said some of their colleagues have lost their lives due to the inhumane treatment they are being subjected to, regretting that they have been working without employment letters.
Oluyinde said the health plan was yet to be upgraded since 2011, and they also stated that whenever they went on strike, the authorities could either make use of military personnel to intimidate them or make use of divide and rule tactics.
“Many of us have been working here for years without employment letter. Our grievances basically boil down to the issue of non-payment of salaries for about eight months now. We are owed 13 months’ bonuses since 2019. We haven’t been paid leave allowance since 2020. We are yet to get the end of Year contract bonus since 2019 and 10 months of salary differentials since 2017 after harmonisation in 2019.
“There is the issue of poor welfare on the facilities, the amenities are not up to standard to make workers comfortable. Also, there is the issue of poor health plans without upgrades since 2011. No HMO which is affecting workers because they cannot access better medical care.
“These are very serious issues as we already lost many workers to the cold hands of health issues as a result of financial constraints, and this is connected to the non-payment of salaries and failure on the part of the company to review salaries.
“These are the very important issues we want those at the helm of affairs to know about because all means to resolve it has proven futile and the issue is getting worse.”
Another protester, Hon Faith Akpeh, said all they are demanding for is better working conditions.
“We know they’re aware, but they don’t care. We have been making our grievances known. Whenever we embark on strike action, they do not care because they institute divide and rule in the asset by sharing us into two different companies.
“There are times when the military is used to intimidate us. Our demands are simple. They include payment of salaries and bonuses, better welfare, PPE, COVID 19 allowance, salary review, HMO review and employment letters.”
Meanwhile the management of NPDC/Neconde JV is yet to react on the protest and the allegations raised by the protesting workers.
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