News Flash! _CSO Begs Presidency, NLC to Intervene Over Inhumane, Slave Conditions of Engineers at NDPHC as Third-Party Staff for 12 Years Without Confirmation
A Civil Society Organization has appealed to the Presidency and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to prevail on the Management of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), a power generation company under Sewa and Hermes, to confirm the appointment of some staff appointed as contract staff over 12 years ago.
Most of the affected staff were recruited in 2013 by the management of NDPHC and handed over to Sewa and Hermes as their paymaster. They are the engineers running the gas turbines on site and have actively participated in the commissioning stage. Despite their contributions to the smooth running of the gas plant for about 12 years, their status as third-party contract staff has remained unchanged, contravening labor law.
The former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, who was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of NDPHC, had ordered the former management to regularize all contract staff. However, the management disregarded the directive, and nothing was done until he exited office in 2023.
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According to safety standards, it is an unsafe act to work under sensitive equipment when one’s state of mind is disturbed. The affected workers have faced numerous challenges, including:
1. Undefined contract status
2. Stagnation with no promotions
3. Irregularities in salary payments
4. Unremitted monthly pension
5. Segregation
6. Exclusion from other benefits
7. Inhumane conditions of service
8. No retainer hospital for third-party staff
9. No tax evidence
We appeal to the Presidency and the NLC to use their good offices to prevail on NDPHC to address these challenges and improve the conditions of service for the affected engineers.
