Workers handling Section 3B of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project in Cross River State have embarked on a strike, demanding the removal of some expatriate managers and the reinstatement of the state liaison officer, Asuquo Ukpayang.

The workers, numbering about 600, began the protest on October 26 at the Hitech Construction Company’s project yard in Awi, Akamkpa Local Government Area, accusing the management of intimidation, arbitrary salary deductions, unfair treatment and poor working conditions.

The protesting workers, who gathered at the facility on Wednesday, said they would sustain the action until the company addressed their grievances. Military personnel were seen providing security around the construction yard.

The workers alleged that some Lebanese expatriates brought in to manage the project sidelined Ukpayang and appointed a Community Liaison Officer (CLO) whom they accused of being more amenable to the expatriates.

Speaking with journalists, a quality control and laboratory worker, Esikere Peter, alleged that the company had reduced workers’ paid hours from between four and eight hours to two hours, resulting in significant cuts in their earnings.

He also claimed that night shifts had been removed from workers’ records, despite some employees continuing to work until 11 p.m. without corresponding payments.

Peter further accused the project manager, identified as Boutrous, of arbitrary dismissals, intimidation and threats against workers. He alleged that employees were also penalised for requesting materials required to carry out their duties.

“We are demanding the removal of the project manager, the site manager, Mr Tony, and the earth-moving supervisor, Mr Shabel, who have continuously treated workers unfairly.

“We are not protesting to destroy property or cause violence. We just want Nigerian workers to be treated fairly and with dignity,” he said.

A trailer driver, Stephen Oke, also accused the expatriate managers of disrespecting and intimidating Nigerian workers, despite their role in carrying out the bulk of the construction work under difficult conditions.

Oke alleged that workers were being shortchanged and underpaid, calling on the company’s management to intervene and address their complaints.

Similarly, an earth-moving and level-checking worker, Ana Matthew, alleged that employees worked under harsh weather conditions without adequate shelter and accused the management of deploying military personnel to intimidate them.

Matthew also complained about alleged reductions in workers’ pay despite their working day and night. He further alleged that scrap materials previously shared among workers were being sold without their consent.

He called for the return of personnel familiar with the project’s foundation, noting that the workers supported the coastal highway project because of its importance to road connectivity in the Niger Delta.

Some female workers also complained about inadequate welfare facilities, alleging that the company had failed to provide a separate restroom for women, while expatriate staff had access to multiple restrooms.

Reacting to the protest, Ukpayang expressed solidarity with the workers, saying he had received complaints concerning salary deductions, unpaid entitlements and their treatment by the project management.

He said the wife of the Cross River State governor, Mrs Eyoanwan Otu, had earlier drawn the attention of Hitech management to concerns about workers’ welfare and urged the company to ensure fair treatment for all employees.

Ukpayang 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.

He urged the workers to remain peaceful and nominate representatives for negotiations, assuring them that their grievances would be presented to the relevant authorities and that legitimate outstanding payments would be addressed.