The Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Hon. Abinye Blessing Pepple, has received the 200-page investigative report on the industrial action by welders and fitters of Daewoo E&C Nigeria Limited over alleged tax deduction irregularities on the Train 7 Project.
Wisdom Chapp-Jumbo, Chief Press Secretary, to the Chairman in a statement said the report was presented on Thursday, October 16, 2025, by the Chairman of the 14-member Investigative Committee and Senior Special Adviser on Industrial Matters, Amasenibo Dr. Akie Hart.
He said the Committee was inaugurated on September 23, 2025, following protests by the affected workers over alleged over-taxation, non-remittance of deducted taxes, and non-issuance of Tax Clearance Certificates and Tax Identification Numbers (TIN).
Presenting the findings, Dr. Hart said the Committee engaged extensively with Daewoo management and staff, the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS), public and private tax consultants, and independent financial experts. He disclosed that two verification visits were made to the RIRS headquarters in Port Harcourt for documentation and confirmation of facts.
According to the report, the RIRS cleared Daewoo of any tax liability, confirming that all Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) deductions for 2024 were duly remitted. The Committee also validated the tax computations using the Federal Fiscal Responsibility Commission PAYE calculator and the PwC formula, which aligned with RIRS assessments.
It further noted that the RIRS has issued a conditional clearance letter to Daewoo and confirmed that Tax Clearance Certificates (TCCs) and RIVTIN numbers have been released to affected workers and attached to their September 2025 pay slips distributed on October 5, 2025.
The Committee recommended continuous sensitization of workers on tax issues, quarterly issuance of Tax Clearance Certificates, engagement with RIRS for improved tax policy, a forensic audit of Daewoo and RIRS, and upgrading of the Bonny Tax Office to enhance service delivery.
