The National Association of Plant Operators has reacted to last night’s shutdown of the Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited (DECN) Train 7 project site.

In broadcast to workers on the issue by the President General of NAPO, Harold Benstowe, monitored by Kristina Reports in Bonny Island, Rivers State, NAPO demanded that DECN ensure the payment of all entitlements due the workers, especially, their transport allowances, and guarantee the safety of the workers before implementing the shutdown.

DECN had on the night of Sunday, October 9, 2022 announced the shutdown of its Train 7 project site, siting its inability to guarantee the safety of its workers and equipment, a decision which has already begun to receive harsh criticisms.  

NAPO President General accused DECN of an invidious plot to intimidate and disorganise its workers who have continued their protest against the company over disagreements on working conditions.

“This action they have put in the public space is to further disorganize workers in their effort to divide and rule.”

“This is a clue that there is a plan by the management of Daewoo to attack the workers again at the workers village.”

Benstowe directed members of NAPO to stay put until their safety and relevant entitlements are sorted out by the DECN management, taking a swipe at the reason DECN gave for the site shutdown, asserting that the company had never taken responsibility for the safety of its workers.  

“Everyone should stay put. There is no need to panic. Everybody should standby until they have made adequate arrangements, one, for their traveling allowance, and two, for their standby salaries.”

“We want to be convinced that these salaries would be adequate and in line with the law; not to just pay whatever they wish to workers.”

“First of all, the management of Daewoo is releasing a memo for the evacuation of workers on the grounds that they cannot guarantee the security and protection of her staff. Have they always guaranteed the security of staff since the start of the project?”

“Instead, they have been on the frontburner of violating the fundamental human rights of the Nigerian workers that are members of NAPO, sending cultists, sending some of the security agencies to continue to violate the rights of Nigerian workers that are members of NAPO under the employ of Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited.”

“They have been the ones sending the security agents to attack them.  Why are they saying now that they cannot guarantee the safety of their workers as if they have always been there for them?”

The NAPO President General called on the Inspector General of Police, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt to ensure that their operatives are not used by DECN to undermine the constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms of Nigerian workers in the employ of the company.

“We are using this opportunity to call on the security agencies, especially, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the DSS, and GOC 6 Division Nigerian Army to make sure that the members of NAPO that are in the Workers Village in the employ of Daewoo are really protected from harm. The Project Manager of Daewoo should be held responsible should anything happen to any worker.”