By Festus Ahon, ASABA
CONTRACT staff of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC attached to the Eriemu oil field, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, have embarked on a protest against the alleged non-payment of their six months’ salaries and bonuses.

The workers, who undertake production operation support, maintenance, security surveillance and housekeeping in the oil field, said “NPDC shall not operate the facilities until they have offset the workers’ entitlements,” reiterating that they will not resume duties until their demands are met.

In a protest letter addressed to the Commanding Officer, 222 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, the workers, under the aegis of Eriemu Field Workers Forum, lamented the deplorable condition allegedly meted on them by the company, listing other grouses to include non-payment of pending arrears “of last year (2014) and this year” as well as the non-provision of Personnel Protective Equipment.

The letter signed by the forum’s Chairman, Mr. Freeborn Adjanakpo and Secretary, Comrade Benjamin Ogbidjara alleged that “NPDC has proposed to hand over surveillance and flow line guards contracts to the communities through the Community Development Board (CDB) in the GMOU so as to enable the communities to pay the surveillance and flow line guards with effect from January, 2015.