Job Security: House Committee Flays NNPC, WRPC

Chinazor Megbolu |

The House Committee on Public Petitions of House of Representatives has flayed the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) Limited over job security and unfavourable working conditions for employees.

The House Committee warned the two bodies against rumours of a plan to sack some of its workforce at the refinery. The Committee stated this following the failure of the representatives of both organisations to appear before it on December 12, for the verdict on the petition brought against them by the “Support Staff” of the Refinery.

The Support Staff of WRPC had petitioned both branches of the National Assembly over the unfavourable working conditions in which they have been subjected to by NNPC and WRPC.

The petitioners had claimed their employers used intimidation, deception and denials when dealing with them. The matter was adjourned for final hearing and verdict on Feb 5 and 6, 2020 at the National Assembly complex.

The complainants maintained they are being made to work in very dehumanising conditions with lack of medical care, annual leave, pension, job security amongst other incentives meant for staff of the organisation.

They also went on to state that their employers deliberately set conditions, which are designed to preclude the vastly experienced “Support Staff” from taking part in publicly advertised recruitment exercises adding that most of the favoured staff are indigenes of the host communities to several of NNPC facilities and installations in the Niger Delta region.

The “Support Staff” in a bid to secure better working conditions have embarked on several lawful protests geared towards finding lasting solution to the issues