Why We Shutdown NLNG Train 7 Project – Workers

Some workers of the NLNG Train 7 project in Bonny Island in Rivers State have insisted that they have embarked on a challenge to the alleged tax fraud levelled against them in the ongoing project.

The president-general, National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Harold Benstowe, says the core issue under review is tax fraud, querying why tax deductions would be made from workers’ remuneration and receipts not issued.

“This anomaly has been a long-standing contention between workers and their management from the Base project (Train 1).

“It begs the question that companies will make deductions from workers’ salaries and will not show evidence of such deductions, so the workers can confirm that they are tax compliant. This is something we at NAPO do not understand,” Benstowe said.

He stated that NAPO may wade into the matter should the companies affected and their client, the NLNG, not resolve the issue as quickly as possible, adding that “workers deserve to have evidence that they have paid their tax and also should have their TIN without much ado”.

Meanwhile, one of the contractors handling the NLNG Train 7 project, Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria (DECN), in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, said it is engaging its workers and their unions in an effort to resolve the issues that led to workers shutting down the project.

The statement said no incident of fraud is associated with the company, pointing out that tax receipts do not emanate from the company, but from the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS).

The statement, signed by the contract, administration, and services (CAS) manager, Bernard Ewubare, insisted that Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) are not generated by the company but by the Joint Tax Board (JTB) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

It pleaded with the workers, especially welders and fitters and their unions, to give the company two weeks, beginning Monday, September 22, 2025, to resolve all issues surrounding the industrial crisis.

The statement reads in part: “The management of Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria (DECN) wishes to express its concern over the recent industrial crisis occasioned by the demand for tax receipts and tax identification numbers from welders and fitters on the Train 7 project.

“Management acknowledges the controversy surrounding tax receipts and identification numbers for some welders and fitters working with the company on the Train 7 project.

“Management wishes to clarify that tax deductions made from workers are instantly remitted to the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS), and tax receipts are obtained and advanced to the respective staff.

“Management wishes to clarify that the tax identification number is not generated by Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited but by the Joint Tax Board (JTB) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

“Management also wished to clarify that there is no incidence of fraud associated with tax deductions in DECN.

“Management will facilitate through the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS), the provision of tax certificates with verifiable Tax Identification Numbers (TIN), having DECN code for accessibility to all welders/fitters within two weeks from 22/09/2025.

“Management is actively engaging with the welders, fitters, and their respective unions to address the issues. This dialogue process has reached advanced stages, with an appeal for workers to give management two weeks or fourteen days to resolve the issue.

“Management has been in active communication with workers, unions, and other stakeholders to communicate the state of things with all parties concerned and resolve the issue.

“DECN management has activated all processes of addressing the issue under review, including engaging the River State Internal Revenue Service.”

Meanwhile, President General, National Association of Plants Operators (NAPO), Harold Benstowe, says the core issue under review is tax fraud, querying why tax deductions will be made from workers’ remuneration and receipts not issued.

“This anomaly has been a long-standing contention between workers and their management from the Base project (Train 1).

“It begs the question that companies will make deductions from workers’ salaries, and they will not show evidence of such deductions, so the workers can confirm that they are tax compliant. This is something we at NAPO do not understand,” Benstowe said.

He stated that NAPO may wade into the matter should the companies affected and their client, the NLNG, not resolve the issue as quickly as possible, adding, “workers deserve to have evidence that they have paid their tax and also should have their TIN without much ado”.