The National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO) has expressed deep concerns over recent terminations of Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited (DECN) employees, alleging that the dismissals are part of a targeted campaign against NAPO members following legal actions it initiated against the company.

According to the President General of NAPO, Harold Benstowe, the multinational firms involved in the Train 7 project of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) in Bonny, Rivers State, Nigeria, have taken punitive steps against its members associated with a recent lawsuit aimed at obtaining formal recognition for NAPO.

He asserted that it was a deliberate attempt by the companies to destroy the subject matter of the suits which are pending before the National Industrial Court covering formal recognition of NAPO by the companies, right of the workers to choose which union to belong to, illegal deductions from workers’ salaries, and human rights violations, among others.  

“After filing our suit against Daewoo, SAIPEM, NLNG, and other subcontractors, we observed a pattern of intimidation and victimization targeting our members, many of whom are now being dismissed from their roles.”

He added that the ongoing terminations come despite pending court proceedings, a move he considers “an affront to the court” and a violation of due process.

One affected worker, Solomon Brown, described his confusion following his abrupt dismissal, saying, “They dropped me in April. They said NAPO, but I don’t know the reason why.”

Another dismissed worker, Longinus Nwaokeke, recounted a similar experience. “I called to report a machine issue to my supervisor, but then my manager had me sign a warning letter. Next thing, I’m told my job is finished because they’re reducing staff. I’ve worked for Daewoo almost 25 years—I have six children.”

Tuwonimi Benstowe also recounted how he and the NAPO President General, Harold Benstowe were almost arrested on an alleged friendly visit to the Bonny Police Station.

“It was on 5th of September, we went, I learnt DPO called him for friendly visit, on getting there we now noticed the call for us to fill a petition, we noticed that NUCCEFEW wrote a petition that we were shouting that NAPO must stay, before then one man called Ominini, if not that our presido went with a reporter in Bonny, here we now noticed the plan was to kidnap, we observed based on their action the way they were doing things, so they now said we should go and revisit”.

Gogo Bristol recounted his experience in September 2024, that the union workers were laid off because that attended union meetings.

“One lady called me on the phone that I’ve been sacked that job has finished. I argued that scaffolding job is still left. I called my supervisor. My supervisor was angry and he said he was not aware, they put my name that I’m mechanical they insisted, I signed and gave them their ID card, I feel bad  that in Bonny Kingdom such thing is happening and nothing is happening, even the youth and nothing is happening”.

The wave of layoffs reportedly intensified after NAPO filed two lawsuits in June at the National Industrial Court. One suit, NICN/ABJ/165/2024, seeks formal certification for the union, while the second, NICN/ABJ/166/2024, targets Daewoo and other contractors for alleged unjust treatment of union members.

In an emotional address, Benstowe shared the story of one union member, Obasi, who was recently detained by local police a situation he alleges is tied to NAPO’s legal actions. “This morning, we received information that Obasi, a named plaintiff in the case, was arrested and detained. This has pushed our members to voluntarily stop work in protest,” Benstowe said, urging thorough investigative journalism to uncover alleged misconduct at Daewoo and other firms.

The union is now calling on the National Industrial Court to address what it sees as retaliatory dismissals and hold Daewoo, SAIPEM, and other contractors accountable for interfering in legal proceedings.

Efforts by Kristina Reports to obtain the company’s response to the alleged terminations were unsuccessful as of the time of this publication.