The National Association of Plants Operators (NAPO) says its members working on the Train 7 project of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) in Bonny, Rivers State will embark on a one-day warning strike on Friday, January 23, 2026.
President General of NAPO, Harold Benstowe, who announced this on Thursday, January 22, 2026 during a press briefing in Bonny, Rivers State, said this follows the expiration of a seven-day notice issued by NAPO.
He stated that the industrial action is in protest against alleged tax irregularities involving deductions from workers’ salaries that were reportedly not remitted to the appropriate government authorities.
“The purpose of this strike is as a result of an alleged tax fraud case complained by members of NAPO working in the Nigeria LNG Train 7 project.”
“This is a situation whereby taxes were deducted from our members but was not remitted to the government. As a result of that, come tomorrow, Friday from 6am, the workers of Train 7 will be gathered in the premises of Train 7 peacefully to announce their grievances.”
According to Benstowe, the seven working days’ notice issued by the association’s National Administrative Council (NAC) elapsed on Thursday, January 22, 2026, paving the way for the warning strike scheduled to commence at 6am on Friday, January 23, 2026.
He said affected workers would peacefully assemble within the Train 7 project premises throughout the day to express their grievances, stressing that the action would serve as a prelude to a possible indefinite strike should their demands remain unmet after another seven-day window.
The NAPO leader assured that the protest would be peaceful, noting that relevant security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Navy, Police, Department of State Services, as well as the Minister of Labour and Employment, had been duly notified.
Benstowe also warned against the involvement of non-workers or troublemakers, stating that anyone found disrupting the protest would be handed over to security agencies for prosecution.
“And this is a warning to be troublemakers, to stay clear from the environment of the strike because we will not hesitate to hand over troublemakers to the security agents to be prosecuted for criminal activities.”
He added that the strike also seeks justice for workers reportedly disengaged since August 2025, whose reinstatement had earlier been directed by the Minister of Labour.
“This is just for the workers, those that have been sacked right from the month of August 2025 that the Honourable Minister of Labour asks the management of Daewoo, Saipem and NLNG to return back because what they are asking is genuine and they are right. “
The union urged all members to comply with directives from the task force monitoring the protest and to maintain order as they press home their demands.