By Christian Njoku
Workers of Hitech Construction Company handling Section 3B of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project have embarked on strike, demanding the removal of expatriates and reinstatement of the State Liaison Officer.
The protesting workers, who on Wednesday accused the project management of intimidation, unfair treatment and salary cuts, said their action was aimed at addressing worsening working conditions and protecting their welfare.
They alleged that the expatriates who were Lebanese came in and refused to work with Mr Asuquo Ukpayang, the State Liaison Officer, for the project and brought in a Community Liaison Officer (CLO), who they could control.
A visit by our Reporter to Awi, Akamkpa Local Government Area, starting point of the project from Cross River State, witnessed a large congregation of protesting workers in front of Hitech Construction Yard and presence military personnel protecting the facility.
Speaking to journalists, Esikere Peter, a Quality Control/Laboratory worker, alleged that payment for working hours had been reduced from four to eight hours to two hours, resulting in significant salary losses.
Peter also alleged that night shifts had been scrapped from workers’ bookings, despite some employees continuing to work until 11 p.m. without corresponding payments.
He further accused the Project Manager, one Mr Boutrous, a Lebanese of arbitrary dismissals, intimidation and threatening workers, adding that employees were allegedly penalised for requesting materials needed to perform their duties.
“We are demanding the removal of the Project Manager, the Site Manager, Mr Tony and Earth Moving Supervisor, Mr Shabel, who have continuously treated workers unfairly.
“We the workers of this project are not protesting to destroy property or cause violence, we just want the Nigerian workers to be treated fairly and with dignity,” he said.
Similarly, Stephen Oke, a trailer driver, accused the expatriates of intimidating Nigerian workers and treating them disrespectfully, while calling on the company’s management to address their complaints.
Oke alleged that the Nigerian labourers do all the work in harsh conditions, yet they were cheated and maltreated, shortchanged and underpaid.
On his part, an Earth-Moving/Level-checking worker, Mr Ana Matthew, alleged that employees worked under harsh weather conditions without adequate shelter and accused management of using military personnel to intimidate workers.
Matthew also alleged that workers’ payments were reduced despite working day and night, while scrap materials previously shared among employees were allegedly sold without their consent.
He called for the return of personnel familiar with the project’s foundation, stressing that workers supported the coastal highway because of its importance to improving road connectivity in the Niger Delta.
Some of the female workers also alleged maltreatment, noting something as simple as having a separate restroom for the women was not made available while the expatriates have multiple restrooms than they need on site.
Reacting, Ukpayang, Cross River State Liaison Officer for the project, expressed solidarity with the workers, saying their complaints about salary deductions, unpaid entitlements and treatment had been brought to his attention.
He noted that the wife of the state governor, Mrs Eyoanwan Otu, had earlier communicated workers’ welfare concerns to Hitech management, urging the company to ensure equitable treatment for all employees.
He promised to engage the company’s senior and local management, the Federal Controller of Works and the Minister of Works to facilitate dialogue and resolve the dispute.
Ukpayang urged the workers to remain peaceful and nominate representatives for negotiations, assuring them that their grievances would be addressed and legitimate outstanding payments made.
The workers numbering about 600 declared that they started protesting on October 26 and would continue protesting.
