Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited, DECN, one of the key EPC contractors on the NLNG Train 7 project, has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, workers’ welfare, and industrial harmony, following recent protests by welders and fitters over tax receipts and Tax Identification Numbers, TINs.
In a statement signed by its Community Affairs and Security Manager, Bernard Ewubare, Daewoo said all tax deductions from workers’ salaries are promptly remitted to the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, RIRS, stressing that there was “no incidence of fraud associated with tax deductions in DECN.”
The protest, which occured last Tuesday was spearheaded by welders and fitters demanding tax receipts and Tax Identification Numbers, TINs as well as non-issuance of receipts, to validate deductions from their salaries.
Following the protests which led to vandalization of properties, Daewoo had issued a three-day time-off directive to staff, urging them to resume today, Monday, even as other contractors under the Saipem-Chiyoda-Daewoo, SCD, Joint Venture held consultations to contain the situation.
The company clarified that it is not responsible for generating TINs, which are issued by the Joint Tax Board, JTB, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS.
However, in a proactive move to resolve the matter, Daewoo has pledged to facilitate the issuance of tax certificates with verifiable TINs for all welders and fitters within two weeks, between today, September 22 and October 4, 2025.
“Management will facilitate through the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, RIRS, the provision of tax certificates with verifiable Tax Identification Numbers having DECN code for accessibility to all welders and fitters within two weeks,” the company assured.
The firm also emphasized that workers’ jobs remain secure during the resolution process.
“No welder or fitter will be placed on redundancy without being provided with his/her verifiable TIN,” it stated, adding that it had not authorized any security agency to harass or intimidate staff over the issue.
Daewoo described its relationship with workers as one built on trust and mutual respect and pledged to maintain that spirit throughout the resolution process.
“Management and the welders/fitters in Train 7 Project are to maintain the existing good employer/employee relationship,” the statement noted.
While expressing regret over incidents of property damage during the protest, Daewoo reiterated that dialogue, not confrontation, remains the best way forward.
“We appeal for calm and understanding from all workers affected and urge that they show some level of maturity in the course of these events,” the company said.
Meanwhile, the Bonny Local Government Chairman, Abinye Blessing Pepple, has also convened a stakeholders’ meeting for tomorrow, Tuesday, to help all sides reach an amicable settlement on the issue.
