We’re Already Resolving Train 7 Workers’ Protest, Daewoo Says, Insists No Fraud Involved in Tax Receipts Issue

Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited (DECN) says it is currently working with various workers unions and stakeholders to addressing the industrial crisis involving welders and fitters on the Train 7 project of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) in Bonny, Rivers State.

The company said this via a statement on Monday, September 22, 2025 signed by its Community Affairs and Security (CAS) Manager, Bernard Ewubare, and made available to Kristina Reports in Bonny, Rivers State.
The company stated that there was no wrongdoing involved in the matter, informing that it had agreed with the unions to allow a two-week window to engage the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS) to resolve the outstanding issues.

The dispute stemmed from workers’ demands for tax receipts and tax identification numbers (TINs), which led to protests and disruption at the project site.

Below is an abridged version of the statement issued by the company:

“1. 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.

2. Management acknowledges the issue of controversy surrounding tax receipts and tax identification numbers for some welders and fitters working with the company on the Train 7 project.
3. Management wishes to clarify that tax deductions done from workers are instantly remitted to the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS) and tax receipts obtained and advanced to respective staff.
4. Management wishes to clarify that tax identification number is not generated by Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited (DECN) but by the Joint Tax Board (JTB) and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
5. Management also wishes to clarify that there is no incidence of fraud associated with tax deductions in DECN.
6. Management will facilitate through the Rivers State internal Revenue Service (RIRS) the provision of Tax certificates with verifiable Tax Identification Number (TIN) having DECN code for accessibility to all Welders/Fitters within two weeks from 22/09/2025 to 04/10/2025.
7. Management is actively engaging with the welders and fitters as well as their respective unions to address the issue and this dialogue processes have reached advanced stages with an appeal for workers to give the management two (2) weeks or fourteen (14) days to resolve the issue.
8. Management of DECN has been in active communication with the workers, unions and other stakeholders with a view to communicating the state of things with all parties concerned in the matter with a view to resolving the issue.
9. DECN Management has activated all processes of addressing the issue under review including engaging the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS).
10. Management of Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited (DECN) has agreed that in case of perceived over taxation of any Welder/Fitter, such matter should be made available with evidence of pay slip to the site representatives and forward to DECN HR Team for necessary attention.
11. Management has also agreed with the various unions that no Welder/Fitter will be placed on Redundancy within this period without being provided with his/her verifiable TIN. It has also not mandated any security agency to invite, arrest, interrogate or detain any worker with regards to the issue at hand.
12. Management, however, regrets the action of some of the workers who smashed the glass and damaged the doors of a coaster bus, and the main entrance to the DECN administrative building, and assaulted their colleagues and even security personnel on duty.
13. Management of DECN wishes to inform that the project owner, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, project implementer, security agencies, and all relevant stakeholders are all informed that resolution processes has been activated to resolve the issue.
14. Management also agreed with the unions that DECN Management and the Welders/Fitters in Train 7 Project are to maintain the existing good employer/employee relationship, and, therefore, appeals for calm and understanding from all workers affected and urges that workers show some level of maturity in the course of these events.

In the course of the protest, some of the workers smashed the glass and damaged the doors of a coaster bus, and the main entrance to the DECN administrative building, as well assaulted several of the workers and security personnel on duty.”

The current dispute began a few days ago when welders and fitters on the Train 7 project downed tools on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, demanding their tax receipts and TINs.

The protests escalated and by Thursday, September 18, 2025, Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited (DECN) declared a three-day time-off, asking staff to resume on Monday, September 22, 2025.

According to the information made available to Kristina Reports, during the unrest, some workers damaged company property, including smashing the glass of a coaster bus and breaking doors at the DECN administrative building. They also assaulted colleagues and security personnel on duty.

Other unions such as the National Union of Civil Engineering, Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW), Ibani Welders Association, and various stakeholders have so far remained silent.

Security sources, however, confirmed the tension at the site, stressing that the workers’ demand for proof of tax compliance is legitimate.

Daewoo has now committed to addressing the issue within two weeks and has assured workers of continued dialogue.

Meanwhile, calm returned to the site as workers resumed on Monday, September 22, 2025 and went about their duties freely.