Pipelines guards protest 22 months unpaid salaries

Private security guards protecting Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) oil pipelines from Lokoja to Kaduna State, embarked on a peaceful protest Thursday against the non-payment of 22 months’ salary arrears.

The protesting workers, who blocked the entrance to the NNPC depot at Awawa, Abaji Area Council, FCT, denied members of staff, petrol tankers and visitors entry.

The security guards, who are employees of MRS Limited, carried placards bearing inscriptions such as, “Pay us our 22-months salaries, “We are not slaves” and “We will block Abuja-Lokoja Road if we are not paid.”

Spokesman of the protesting workers, Alhaji Abdullahi Kaja, explained that when they were working directly under the NNPC, they were paid as and when due and received other benefits until MRS Limited took over.

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“Other security guards doing the same work at Warri, Port Harcourt and Katsina, have been paid, but we at Lokoja-Kaduna axis have not been paid.

“When we were working directly under the NNPC, our salaries were constant and we worked under good condition.

“But when MRS Limited took over, there is no provision for even torch lights, raincoats and rain boots to enable us to work properly.

“All we want is our salaries paid; as well as going back to work directly under the NNPC and not MRS Limited,” Kaja said.

Kaja called on the government to intervene in order to resolve the dispute and forestall any breakdown of law and other.

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