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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Aggrieved houseboat workers on Monday protested at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over 34 months of unpaid salaries arising from the alleged failure of the Nigerian Army to pay boat owners and contractors.
The protest coincided with the hearing of a suit instituted by three indigenous houseboat contractors in the Niger Delta over allegedly unpaid rental services.
Justice Stephen Daylop Pam has fixed 18 November for the hearing of the preliminary objection in the matter.
The protesters, carrying placards, called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to intervene and compel the military authorities to pay what they described as their legitimate entitlements.
Some of the inscriptions on their placards read: “National Assembly intervene now! Houseboat contractors are not slaves”, “Mr President hear our cry, pay our contractors”, “Our families are hungry, our children are suffering. Pay us our monies” and “We believed in the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President. Save our soul – 34 months unpaid”.
Others read: “DHQ injustice to Niger Delta contractors”, “Pay us for our 34 months houseboat supply services”, “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 said they could no longer feed their families or send their children to school.
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“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 said: “Our families need to eat. December is coming up. Christmas is coming up. For 34 months, we have not received our salary.”
“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,” another protester lamented.
The suit was instituted by Peaches Integrated Services Limited, Etucom Integrated Services Limited and Godsam Industrial Services Limited, seeking to compel the Attorney General of the Federation, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe, to settle outstanding debts.
When the matter came up on Monday, counsel for the plaintiffs, Mr Reuben Wanogho, informed the court that the matter was for preliminary objection.
Only counsel for the first defendant was present when the matter was mentioned. The judge thereafter adjourned the case until 18 November.
Beyond the financial dispute, stakeholders say the matter is emerging as a critical threat to the nation’s fight against oil theft, as houseboats provide accommodation and logistics support for troops deployed to the creeks of the Niger Delta.
