Some members of the Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) workers besieged the commission’s offices in Jabi and Utako, Abuja, on Tuesday, in protest of claimed poor welfare.
The protesting employees set management a 24-hour deadline to resolve their concerns or face industrial unrest.
Mr Okechukwu Anya, Chairman of the Abuja Branch of the union, told journalists that the peaceful protest was intended to raise the attention of management to issues of staff welfare.
Anya characterised the problems as non-remittance of pension deductions from employee salaries, a poor working environment, insufficient working gear, unpaid employee claims, and on-call allowances.
He also mentioned staff medicals, seven months of unpaid salaries, and non-payment of outsourced labour.
The chairman stated that the protest was required due to the management’s casual attitude towards resolving the concerns.
He stated that the union had sent multiple letters to management in an attempt to fix the issues, but to no avail.
He stated that the demonstration was in accordance with their constitutional rights to express their grievances and seek remedy, particularly on problems pertaining to their welfare, economic rights, and working circumstances.
“Part of our mandate as union executives is to collaborate with management to improve employee welfare and the overall growth of the organisation.”
“We are appealing to the commission’s management to maintain their commitment to their workforce.”
“We will continue to voice our displeasure until all issues are satisfactorily resolved,” he stated.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), security guards at the offices shut the doors and denied demonstrators entrance.
The workers eventually dispersed, with no response from management.
When approached, the commission’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Adamu Garba, declined to comment because he was on leave and sent all inquiries to his deputy, Ms Carol Chika.
Chika, on the other hand, did not return her calls. (NAN)
