How DAEWOO, other multinational companies conspired with security agents to brutalise workers, as NAPO takes search for justice to House of Representatives

Before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions chaired by Hon. Jerry Alagbaoso, is the case of brutal attack against members of the National Association of Plant Operators, NAPO, working as heavy duty machinery equipment/plant operators who have petitioned the House of Representatives over heinous attack by military personnel on the order of DAEWOO, a Korean Company for protesting for their rights.

DAEWOO is one of the companies handling the multibillion dollar Nigerian Liquefied Gas in Bonny, Rivers State. Involved in the brutal attack is the Nigeria Police operatives who have at different occasions shot workers for protesting injustices, wage payment discrepancies and enslavement of the workers by the multinational companies.

While addressing the House Committee on Public Petitions by the National President-General of the National Association of Plant Operators, Comrade Harold Benstowe lamented how foreign companies digressed from the partnership agreement with the Federal Government on wage pay to payment of pittance. A development that made NAPO to engage the management of DAEWOO on several occasions without success.

DAEWOO feel threatened by the existence of NAPO, an affiliate of Union of the Trade Union Congress, TUC having registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, with CAC No. 5245, dated on the 21st of February 1989 as Trustee which is recognized as a legal entity under the Nigerian laws. The harrowing experiences of plant operators is coming amid the ongoing registration process of NAPO with the umbrella body, the TUC under the Trade Union Act which has lasted for the past 11 years.

Speaking on the public hearing of the House with CAPITAL POST on Tuesday in Abuja, NAPO President-General said: My name is Harold Benstowe; “It is an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress, TUC. We were asked to come back today being Tuesday 16th May, 2023. The Federal Ministry of Labour wasn’t present, but DAEWOO and SAPAN showed up. We reminded the House of Representatives Committee of our petition. The Committee Chairman, after addressing us said, he has gone through all our petitions. He is asking for settlement because he knew that DAEWOO has attitude of using the Police and Military to harass their workers. He asked us to come back on the 24th so that we can resolve this issue.

DAEWOO is a foreign Engineering Company participating in NLG Train 7 Gas Plant Construction Project in Bonny Island in Rivers State. That project is a $10 billion US project and according to the report, it will take out of the job market over 40,000 Nigerian workers and at the end of the project, about 10,000 will remain to run the plant. It is a boost to reduce unemployment in Nigeria, but what we keep saying is this 10 billion US Dollars is what the Federal Government agreed with her partners, Shell is a shareholder in the NLG from Netherlands, Total Energies from France, and Agip from Italy and the Federal of Nigeria is a shareholder with 49% in that plant.

“Now when this money is released to the contractor to execute the project before these contractors come to execute the project, they usually bid and in most cases, they bid from international standard and money meant for materials is quite different from money meant for manpower and we are saying, it is taxpayers money. We will still pay this money. No matter how they think, Nigeria contributes to the $10 billion US and even though a borrowed money, we will still pay. We are asking the Federal government that when these multinationals come to Nigeria and sign an agreement, that they are going to pay each of the Nigerian worker, N1000, are they sure that they are being paid that amount?

“They also this project will earn Nigerian worker, $5 per hour. Let me quote the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo when he came to Bonny in 2021 and said this project will put in the pocket of a Nigerian worker, $8 per hour. Now think of $8 x 10 hour in a day x 26 working days, we are talking of over N2 million per month participating in that multibillion naira project.

Comrade Benstowe insisted that foreigners are colluding with local partners to perpetuate corruption in Construction industry in Nigeria, urging the Federal government to look into the construction industry and rid it of corrupt elements.

“As we speak, if we get to that project site, workers are not earning $200 per month. If you convert what they earn, it’s just a meagre N150,000 Where is the rest of money going? That is what NAPO is asking. We stand to be quoted and corrected that the Construction Sector has become a looting window where the foreigners and their local partners loot our resources dry. All these are captured in the brief and you hear the Chairman said, he has gone through it.

“Plants Operators have right to organize themselves under one umbrella and that is NAPO and the Federal Ministry of Labour came and said, they want to use the Carpenters Union, wood workers union that is a component in civil engineering sector to organize and operates engineering group. Plant Operators internationally have been classified as operating engineers.

“Among the documents we attached, Rivers State government as far back as 1989, said if this Union is registered, it will grow the economy of Nigeria, but we don’t know what the Registrar of Trade Union is saying.

In his presentation, Comrade Benstowe revealed that the dispute between his Union and contracting companies working on the NLG site led to disengagement of the plant operators, and the Union doesn’t have protection from the Federal Ministry of Labour or the Trade Union Congress as a result of unresolved issues, hence, they are seeking the intervention of the lower parliament so that the plant operators can go back to work.

Part of the prayers included in the petition to the House of Representatives read: “That the workers in the employ of Daewoo Engineering & Construction Nigeria, EVOMEC, Gobal Servces, CCO Construction & Leasing Company, SAPEN Contracting Nigeria in the Nigeria LNG Train 7 Gas Pant Construction Project in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State unlawfully disengaged during the period of the dispute between the Employers and members of the National Association of Pants Operators (NAPO) should be called back to their decent job as Staff of their company.

“That their monthly salaries stopped from the month of November 2022 be paid until date with immediate effect

“That the Nigeria LNG and her Contractors that invited the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Police and other security agencies resulting in the injuries of the workers and most of their personal
belonging should take care of their medical bills and replace the personal belongings that the workers lost in the said military attacks.

“That the Nigeria LNG and her Contractors replaces a the properties of the National Association of Pants Operators (NAPO) that was damaged by their agents during the period
of the peaceful protest.

“That the Nigeria LNG and her Contractors shall immediately create an enabling environment that allow the workers to freely enjoy their right to freely organize themselves in the Trade Union of their choice and the Worker’s right to proper Collective Bargaining
Agreement, that incudes members of the Association NAPO to unonize her members in the employ of the participating companies in the Nigeria LNG facility.

“That the Management of Julius Berger Nigeria PLC in the ongoing Bodo/Bonny Nigeria LNG/FGN road project as a matter of urgency reinstate back all the Staff’s that were

unlawfully disengaged on the month of September 2021 on Trade Union activities.

“That the Inspector General of Police, The Director General Department of State Security Services (SSS) and the Chief of Army Staff investigate their personnel involved in the matter and prosecute same.

“That the Inspector General of Police further investigate officials of the company’s involved in the compromise of the security agencies that led to the human rights abuses of the workers attacked while exercising their constitutional rights.

“That the inspector General of Police order the withdrawal of the malicious kangaroo and unending remind, prosecution that was fed at the Port Harcourt Division Magistrate Court
by the Rivers State Police Command against Comrade Harold Benstowe, Christian. Owaumalam, Monday Deck Mbasi and John Ibietonye Jumbo with case No.
PMC/RMP/02, Monday Dck Mbasi and John Ibietonye Jumbo with case No.
PMC/RMP/025A/2022, in Magistrate Court 10 Chief Magistrate Amad Nna.

“That the Nigeria LNG and her Contractor’s pay adequate compensation to the Staff’ and the leadership of the Association NAPO that was unlawfully arrested and detained by the State Security Services (SSS) and the Nigeria Police Force on their Account.

“And any other order that the House of Representatives may deem fit in favor of the Association NAPO and the Workers, during the course of the matter.”

in his remarks, Committee Chairman warned DAEWOO against infringing on rights of workers.

He called on all warring factions to appear for settlement on the next adjourned date.