By: Blessing Jonathan
The staff and service providers of Nigerian based oil company, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), have embarked on a 3-day warning strike, demanding for salary increase.
The reason for the strike action which began on Tuesday, August 15, with a protest was for the company to increase the staff basic salary which according to the protesters, is no longer enough for their basic amenities since the fuel subsidy removal.
Their claims were backed by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
In a widely shared video uploaded to X, demonstrators were seen holding signs, chanting a solidarity song, and urging the company to alleviate the burden of fuel subsidy removal on employees and service providers.
At the protest, a representative of PENGASSAN sadly exposed that staff members of a reputable company as shell go home with less than the minimum wage in a monthly basis.
“You cannot believe that some people working at Shell go home with less than the minimum wage, now it is happening in Nigeria where inflation has eaten deep into our total wage where people who work for Shell are not able to provide basic food for their families, yet Shell remains adamant in Nigeria.
“Whereas in some other countries, they provided palliatives for such countries like Argentina, Turkey and Venezuela. Now it is happening in Nigeria and Shell has decided to be adamant that is why we are here; we are going to resist them via this three-day warning strike.
“After the warning strike, if they are not able to come to the table to grant our demands, we will shut Shell operations in Nigeria.”
OPINION
Following the decision by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) to eliminate fuel subsidies, the country has witnessed a significant increase in inflation across various aspects of daily life, including transportation, food costs, housing, and more.
People are spending more than they are earning and yet, they are expected to be punctual at work regardless.
Citizens are expressing their silent plea for either an increase in their salaries or a reduction in their workdays. While certain State Governors have opted to decrease the number of working days for public employees and some companies have raised their employees’ salaries, it appears that several companies, including Shell, have yet to take any measures to support their workforce.
Management of these companies are also complaining that service and products are not being profitable at the moment as it used to be. Thus, they can’t increase staff salaries.
A number of Nigerians have made the difficult decision to resign from their jobs due to the inability to cope with the elevated transportation expenses that their current salaries can no longer adequately address. This financial strain has rendered them unable to fulfill even their fundamental necessities.
“The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) is the pioneer and leader of the petroleum industry in Nigeria. SPDC is the operator of the NNPC/SPDC/Total Energies/NAOC Joint Venture and supplies onshore and shallow water oil and gas to domestic and export market from its operations in the Niger Delta.
“The Joint Venture operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) contributes approximately 10% of Nigeria’s domestic natural gas supply. Presently, the company is focused on increasing its natural gas production and is collaborating with the government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to advance four out of the seven crucial gas development projects outlined by the federal government.
“SPDC operates a network of 3,173 kilometres of flow lines and pipelines, with 263 producing oil wells, 56 producing gas wells, six gas plants, two major oil export terminals and one power plant, all belonging to the joint venture.
“The NNPC/SPDC/Total Energies/NAOC Joint Venture is composed of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), which holds 55%; SPDC 30%, Total Energies 10% and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC) 5%.”
In the meantime, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has announced the resumption of loading operations for Nigeria’s Forcados crude oil. This follows a prolonged suspension caused by a pipeline leak at the export terminal.