Welders and fitters say IDs were deactivated after peaceful protests; demand auditable payslips, non-retaliation, and clarity on tax remittances
BONNY, Rivers State — September 24, 2025: Protests at the NLNG Train-7 construction site in Bonny intensified this week as welders, fitters and allied trades alleged a long-running pattern of unexplained payroll deductions, “devilish” working conditions, and an escalation to intimidation and mass deactivations of staff IDs after they staged a peaceful demonstration.
Worker representatives say their questions about deductions—believed to be tax—have gone unanswered for years. “Anytime we ask, they tell us to go to the Rivers State tax office if we’re not satisfied—or resign,” one protest leader said. Several claim the stance mirrors tactics they allege were used during the earlier Train-6 phase in Bonny: “money taken, power given,” with little transparency in return.
‘Peaceful protest, then ID deactivations’
According to multiple union sources, welders and fitters began a peaceful protest months ago after “waiting for information and no one called” them back with documentation. They allege contractors tried to “divide and silence” organizers and subsequently deactivated all welders’ and fitters’ ID cards, a step workers fear is a prelude to mass sackings for simply demanding clarity or refunds where deductions cannot be justified. These claims could not be independently verified at press time; the Saipem-Chiyoda-Daewoo Joint Venture (SCDJV) and subcontractors had yet to provide on-record responses.
Workers further contend local trades are being sidelined in favor of foreign hires, alleging “over 1,000 Filipinos” have been brought in for welding and fitting roles. The figures and the hiring rationale have not been independently confirmed.
‘Where is the tax going?’—comparative payslip raised
Protesters also point to documentation from another major employer operating in Bonny to illustrate what they believe payroll transparency should look like. A payslip image shared with this newspaper—purporting to be from Julius Berger for March 2025—shows a Tax Identification Number (TIN) printed near the top and a clearly itemized Income Tax deduction among other line items, alongside a net transfer figure. (We are withholding the worker’s personal details visible on the document.)
“This is also a company in Bonny with the same salary structure; they have low tax and a TIN number so you know where the tax is going. But on our own, we don’t have TIN for 4–5 years—so where is the tax going?” a workers’ representative asked. The core allegation from Train-7 protesters is not simply that deductions exist, but that their payslips reportedly lack TINs and verifiable remittance trails, leaving them unable to confirm whether sums withheld reached the tax authority.
Allegations of intimidation and harsh conditions
Beyond payroll, workers describe a climate of pressure around the site. Several alleged that security forces and local power brokers have been deployed to silence questions: “They have used all strategies—army, police, cultists, even the LGA chairman—to intimidate workers from asking questions. They’re sacking workers for demanding,” one protester said. Another described the work environment as “devilish,” adding, “I can’t wish my enemy this job—but how man go do na?”
Some protesters went further, claiming “big wings” in the country, Rivers State and Bonny are “eating this tax money.” Those allegations were broad and unsupported by documentary evidence at the time of filing, and no specific individuals were named.
What the workers want
Protesters say their demands are straightforward:
- Auditable payslips with TINs, itemized statutory deductions, and verifiable remittance records available to each worker.
- Non-retaliation guarantees—including restoring site access to deactivated workers while investigations proceed.
- Due-process staffing—transparent criteria for any restructuring and no wholesale displacement of qualified local trades.
- Immediate welfare and safety review in line with Nigerian law and international best practice.
Local government steps in
Following a stakeholder session on Tuesday, September 22, at the Government Lodge in Bonny—with SCDJV and union leaders in attendance—the Bonny Local Government Chairman, Amasenibo Hon. Abinye Blessing Pepple, DSSRS, announced a 14-member committee to probe the claims and report back within two weeks.
Quoting briefly from his address, the chairman said transparency around salaries and tax is “non-negotiable,” adding: “It is a criminal offense to keep deducting money from workers without evidence, as alleged… we must give workers the support they need and protect their rights so we can maintain peace in the LGA.”
The panel—chaired by the Senior Special Adviser on Industrial Matters, Amasenibo Dr. Akie Hart—includes representatives of security agencies, workers’ groups, the Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre, the Bonny Youth Federation, the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, and SCDJV/contractors. It is expected to take testimony, examine payroll and tax records, and deliver recommendations within two weeks.
Right of reply and next steps
Requests for on-record comment from SCDJV and NLNG on the specific allegations—lack of TINs on payslips, opaque deductions, ID deactivations, intimidation, and the scale of foreign hiring—were pending at press time. Worker leaders say they remain open to mediated talks if immediate steps are taken: issue compliant payslips with TINs, open ledgers for joint review with the tax authority, restore IDs while the probe runs, and commit publicly to non-retaliation.
With the LGA inquiry underway, the project’s path back to stability may now depend on rapid movement from accusation and denial to documentation, verification and enforceable guarantees that rebuild trust on site.
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