The House of Representatives on Tuesday, directed the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to reinstate about 400 casual workers recently sacked by one of its subsidiaries in Delta State, pending the outcome of a forensic investigation by the Lawmakers.
The Lawmakers also said it would embark on a forensic audit of the current recruitment of graduates by the corporation to determine how many persons were recruited from the host communities.
Honourable Thomas Eveyitomi,who sponsored the bill, informed the House that all the affected persons are indigenes of the host communities where the refinery is located, which is made up of Itsekiri and Urhobo communities.
According to him, without respect to the House Committee on Public Petitions, the NNPC went ahead to recruit 1,050 graduate trainees against the resolution and recommendations of the committee.
Eveyitomi stressed that: “in the heat of the corona virus pandemic that is ravaging Nigeria and the world at large, the management of Warri Refining and Petro-chemical Company (WRPC) have gone ahead to sack over 300 casual staffs of the Refinery, inspite of the Federal Government directives that no government agency or private establishment should sack or lay off any of its staff.”
He reminded the House of a petition submitted to the House on behalf of the host communities seeking an investigation of the employment status of indigenous workers with Warri Refining and Petro-chemical Company.
He alleged that this recruitment did not reflect the principles of fairness as enshrined in Section 28(2) of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Act which provides inter alia that “the Board shall ensure that the operator or project promoter maintains a reasonable number of personnel from areas it has significant operation”.
He said further that while the casualization status of these workers and the non concession to the host communities in the recent recruitment of graduates trainees is a matter before the House committee on public petitions, the management of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company has gone ahead to lay off over 300 indigenous staffs against the clear and unambiguous directive of the Federal Government that no worker should be dropped or sacked at this precarious time that the country is passing through.
He expressed concern that if the House fail to take immediately steps to arrest the situation, there may likely be a breakdown of law and order and interruption of the smooth operations of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company and its subsidiaries.
Contributing to the motion, Rep Samaila Suleiman said about 170 workers of Kaduna Refinery host community were similarly sacked by the management of the organisation and also sought that they be recalled.
Monarchs from the host communities had expressed dissatisfaction over the way and manner the corporation sacked the casual workers amid the ravaging coronavirus.
Several groups from Delta State also frowned at the development , threatening to protest and shutdown the refineries operational activities.
Recall that, the Delta State Peace Movement,DSPM said the NNPC disrespected th Olu of Warri Kingdom, HRM. Ogiame Ikenwoli and his Royal brother, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom,HRM. Emmanuel Sideso Abe I for sacking and sending out their subjects who were casual staff from the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company,WRPC without regards to the various thrones.
DSPM Chairman and Secretary respextively,Chief Moses Akpojovwe and Comrade Oritsegbemi Awaori made the assertion in a statement sent to Our Correspondent in Warri.
