By Daniel Edu
In a show of protest, employees of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) gathered at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday. Brandishing placards with various messages, the petroleum workers voiced their grievances over the non-payment of their salaries for the past seven months.
Chanting solidarity songs, the workers urged the management to expedite the release of their overdue salaries and also demanded that their pension contributions be remitted promptly.
Oyo State Government Calls for Negotiation with NLC to Address Salary Deduction Issue
In response to the recent demonstration at the state secretariat in Ibadan, Oyo State, where workers demanded an increase in allowances and other benefits, the government, led by Governor Seyi Makinde, has invited the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for a roundtable discussion.
The workers had blocked the secretariat gate during their protest, emphasizing their concerns and threatening further actions.
Addressing the situation, the Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, clarified that the salary deductions owed to workers amount to only three months, not six months as previously claimed. He highlighted that several states across the country are facing similar challenges with salary payments and that Oyo State’s three-month deficit is among the lowest.
The government expressed appreciation for the NLC’s support of the current administration’s good governance policies and appealed to the workers to consider the state’s efforts to address their welfare needs. The Oyo State Government urged the NLC to refrain from further protests and instead engage in productive negotiations to find a resolution to the salary deduction issue.
See below some photos from the protest ground as shared by Daily Trust.
