Daewoo fights to restore stability in Train-7 plant, says deducted taxes were remitted to Rivers govt

…There is no tax fraud here, says CAS manager

Daewoo Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited is fighting to restore stability at the Train-7 plant which was in turmoil due to mass protest by a section of the workers. The protests began Monday last week, September 15, 2025.

The protests did not continue Monday, September 22, 2025. The management said it was not true as alleged by the workers, said to number over 8,000, that it withheld taxes collected from the workers. The company also said there is no tax fraud situation in Daewoo.

The workers had alleged that they were being overtaxed and that the deductions were not being remitted to the coffers of the government. They said their fears grew rife from the new tax law that would kick-start in January 2026 whereby those without tax identification number (TIN) would allegedly not access their bank accounts.

Some of the workers interviewed said the number of those affected were over 8,000 and that the deductions ranged from N80,000 per month to N180,000.

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Reacting in a statement signed by Bernard Ewubare, a ‘CAS’ manager, the company said there was no tax fraud in Daewoo, and that it did not use uniformed men to intimidate protesting workers. It however acknowledged the issue of controversy surrounding tax receipts and TIN, saying it was only concerning some welders and fitters working on the Train 7 project.

Daewoo further denied withholding the taxes, clarifying that tax deductions done from workers were instantly remitted to the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS) and tax receipts obtained and advanced to respective staff.

Management also said tax identification number was not generated by Daewoo but by the Joint Tax Board (JTB) and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). “Management also wishes to clarify that there is no incidence of fraud associated with tax deductions in DECN.”

The company promised to facilitate through the RIRS the provision of verifiable TIN having DECN code for accessibility to all welders/fitters within two weeks from 22/09/2025 to 04/10/2025. “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 weeks or fourteen days to resolve the issue.

On resolving the impasse, Daewoo said: “Management 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.

“Management 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 human resource team for necessary attention.

“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.”

Daewoo however alleged that some of the workers smashed glasses and caused some damages and assaulted their colleagues and even security personnel on duty. “Management 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 have been activated to resolve the issue. The company appealed for calm and for all to maintain the existing good relationship.