Reps direct NNPC to reinstate 470 sacked casual workers

The House of Representatives has directed Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the management of both Warri and Kaduna refineries to reinstate about 470 casual workers from the host communities recently sacked from the two companies.

This is pending investigation by the House committee on public petitions on the matter.

In the resolution on a motion of urgent public importance, sponsored by Thomas Eveyitomi (PDP, Delta) at plenary on Tuesday, the House is also to carry out a forensic audit of recent recruitment of graduates by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to determine the number of persons that were recruited from the various host communities.

Presenting the motion, Eveyitomi said 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, ignoring the Federal Government directives that no government agency or private establishment should sack or lay off any of its staff.

The lawmaker also alleged that the affected workers are indigenes of Itsekiri and Urhobo, the host communities where the Refinery is located.

He said the lawmakers should recalled that a petition was submitted to the House on behalf of the host communities that seek an investigation of the employment status of indigenous workers with Warri Refining and Petro-chemical Company.

He said, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had without respect to the House Committee on Public Petitions, went ahead to recruit 1,050 graduate trainees against the resolution and recommendations of the committee.

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.

In his contribution, Samaila Suleiman, (APC, Kaduna) also called for the recall of about 170 workers sacked by Kaduna Refinery, that are all from the host community.