On Tuesday, May 19 the House of Representatives raised the notion that the 300 Warri Refining And Petro-Chemical Company, (WRPC) laid-off Staff should be given back their jobs.
The motion was first moved by a member of the house of Representatives, Hon. Thomas Eveyitomi.
The Federal Government warned both Private companies and government establishment against firing staff during this critical time in the country.
Thomas Eveyitomi making reference to this stated it is was very appalling to see WRPC go ahead with the redundancy of more than 300 oil workers. He also disclosed that the laid-off staff are from Itsekiri and Urhobo communities which are the host communities.
Going further, Eveyitomi made reference to the 2019 petition by another member of the house, Hon. Ben Bakpa on behalf of the Itsekiri and Urhobo communities indigenes soliciting for the de-casualization of their employment status with WRPC.
According to him, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation disregarding the House of Representatives public’s petition went on with the recruitment of 1,050 graduate trainees.
The lawmaker made known that NNPC recruitment did not incorporate the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Act’s principles of fairness and as this matter was still pending before the House committee, WRPC went ahead to lay off over 300 indigenous workers.
He, therefore, urged the House of Representatives to look into the matter in order to avoid a further break in law and ensure the smooth running of WRPC.
The House Committee finally agreed to see to WRPC reinstating the laid-off workers and also carry on a forensic investigation on the 1050 graduate trainees recruited by NNPC to see the number of host community indigenes recruited.
