The President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured that the Port Harcourt refinery will become operational at the end of this year. The assurance came after Osifo and his Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) counterpart, Joe Ajaero, met with President Tinubu amid nationwide protests over consecutive fuel price hikes and the removal of subsidy.
Osifo stated that the nationwide protest was largely successful and had an impact on spurring the President to address the rehabilitation of major refineries across the nation. The President committed to the Port Harcourt refinery coming online by the end of the year, and labour unions will hold him accountable for this promise.
While the situation with the Warri refinery is seen as a quick fix, the Kaduna refinery faces challenges due to security issues in the country. However, the unions remain optimistic about the progress.
The Organised Labour had previously kicked off its protest against what they deemed “anti-people” policies of the Tinubu administration. The unions demanded the reversal of such policies, including the recent fuel price hike and increased public school fees. One of the conditions for removing fuel subsidy is discontinuing the importation of refined petroleum products and refining them locally.
The Federal Government had approved $1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, which has faced criticism for the high cost. Despite previous announcements, the refinery’s operational status has been repeatedly delayed.
As the unions remain vigilant, they will continue to monitor the progress and ensure that President Tinubu’s assurances are fulfilled, and the Port Harcourt refinery becomes operational by the year-end.
