Operations at the $10 billion Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Train 7 Project have been brought to a halt by protesting workers demanding the issuance of their tax receipts and Tax Identification Numbers (TINs).
The workers, primarily welders and fitters, allege illegal deductions of ₦150,000 monthly from their salaries over the past two years under the guise of tax clearance—without being issued TINs or tax receipts.
The protest began on Thursday last week and escalated through the weekend. On Sunday, the workers continued picketing the administrative offices of the SCD JV (Saipem, Chiyoda, and Daewoo Joint Venture) in Bonny, Rivers State, vowing not to vacate the premises until their demands are addressed.
According to reports gathered by Daily Trust, the affected workers claim they have contributed significantly to bringing the Train 7 project to 90% completion, yet feel disregarded by the company despite their contributions.
One of the protesting workers, who requested anonymity, stated:
“Each of us has been subjected to monthly deductions of about ₦150,000 for tax clearance over the past two years, but we have not been issued TINs. An audit has shown that the taxes were never remitted to the federal government.”
They are now demanding the immediate release of their TINs and a full refund of the deducted sums.
The protest initially began with welders and fitters under Daewoo Contractors, but soon expanded to include junior staff members. Many of the protesters believe that the company’s failure to remit the deducted taxes constitutes a serious breach of trust.
The President of the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Mr. Harold Benstowe, weighed in, calling on anti-graft agencies to intervene. He also warned security operatives not to be used to intimidate the protesting workers.
“We call on the DSS, the Inspector-General of Police, and other security chiefs to caution their personnel on ground. If any agency tries to intimidate these workers, we will not hesitate to drag them to court,” Benstowe warned.
As of the time of filing this report, Mr. Emma Nwatu, a representative of NLNG’s Corporate Communications Department, had yet to respond to messages sent to him via WhatsApp requesting the company’s official response to the protest.