Get Guardian on GoogleHouseboat workers in the Niger Delta have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in their 34-month salary crisis, saying prolonged non-payment has pushed their families into hunger, disrupted their children’s education and left their businesses struggling to survive.
The workers made the appeal on Monday during a protest at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where a suit by three indigenous houseboat contractors over outstanding payments allegedly owed by the Nigerian Army came up for hearing.
Carrying placards, the protesters accused military authorities of failing to settle payments for houseboat rental services, despite the continued use of the facilities to support military operations in the Niger Delta.
They also called on the National Assembly to intervene and prevail on the relevant authorities to clear the outstanding debts.
Some of their placards read: “Mr. President hear our cry, pay our contractors”; “Our families are hungry, our children are suffering. Pay us our monies”; and “Pay us for our 34 months houseboat supply services.”
Others read: “Houseboat contractors are not slaves”; “Our sweat, our labour, our right”; and “Enough is enough. Army is on our boat, but refused to pay for the services.”
Speaking during the protest, some of the workers described their situation as unbearable, saying the prolonged delay had deprived them of their means of livelihood.
“They should pay us our money. We’re hungry. Our boats have dilapidated. Our source of revenue, our source of income, our source of family savers,” one of the protesters said.
Another lamented that the unpaid salaries had made it difficult for workers to meet their families’ basic needs, particularly with the Christmas season approaching.
“Our families need to eat. December is coming up. Christmas is coming up. For 34 months, we have not received our salary,” the protester said.
A third worker said the crisis had affected the education of their children.
“We are hungry for 34 months; we can’t take care of our homes because the salary is not there. Our children no longer go to school,” the protester lamented.
The legal action was instituted by Peaches Integrated Services Limited, Etucom Integrated Services Limited and Godsam Industrial Services Limited against the Attorney General of the Federation, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe.
The contractors are seeking to compel the defendants to settle outstanding debts arising from houseboat rental services provided for military operations.
When the matter came up on Monday, counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr Reuben Wanogho, informed the court that it was scheduled for the hearing of a preliminary objection.
However, only counsel representing the first defendant was present when the matter was mentioned.
Justice Stephen Daylop Pam subsequently adjourned the hearing of the preliminary objection until November 18.
Beyond the financial dispute, the contractors’ concerns have wider implications for security operations in the Niger Delta, where houseboats provide accommodation and logistical support for troops deployed to the creeks.
The workers fear that continued failure to settle the outstanding payments could further undermine the capacity of indigenous contractors to sustain the services supporting military operations in the region.
