SALARY CUTS DON TURN COASTAL HIGHWAY TO PROTEST GROUND AS 600 WORKERS DEMAND MANAGERS’ REMOVAL!

Salary Cuts don become the centre of serious wahala for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project for Cross River State, as more than 600 workers of Hitech Construction Company protest alleged wage reductions, intimidation and unfair treatment. The protest don raise questions about how the people wey dey build one of Nigeria’s biggest road projects dey receive their own fair share, with workers insisting say dem no go return to normal work until management address their complaints.

The protest start on Monday, October 26, for the company construction yard for Awi, Akamkpa Local Government Area, and continue into Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Apart from demanding the removal of three Lebanese expatriate managers, the workers also want the reinstatement of Asuquo Ukpayang, the project state liaison officer. For a project wey suppose connect communities and improve business, the latest development don create another connection wey nobody order: workers, management and government now need urgent dialogue.

Salary Cuts and Alleged Maltreatment: Workers Don Drop Their Tools

According to accounts from the protest, Esikere Peter, a quality control and laboratory worker, allege say management reduce the number of working hours recognised for payment from as many as eight hours to just two hours daily. He also claim say some night shifts no dey appear for payment records, even when workers continue their duties until around 11 p.m. If the allegations prove correct, the matter no be ordinary calculation error; na serious question about how workers’ time and earnings dey account for.

The workers also accuse the project manager, identified as Boutrous, the site manager, Mr Tony, and the earth-moving supervisor, Mr Shabel, of intimidation, arbitrary dismissal and unfair treatment. Trailer driver Stephen Oke allege say Nigerian workers dey face disrespect despite carrying out demanding duties, while earth-moving worker Ana Matthew raise concerns about harsh weather conditions and inadequate shelter. Some female workers also allege say the site no provide separate restroom facilities for women. These remain allegations from the workers, and the company management response is important before anybody fit reach final judgment.

The protesters say dem want the three managers removed and Ukpayang reinstated because, according to their account, the expatriates allegedly refuse to work with the state liaison officer and instead favour another community liaison officer. The workers also raise concerns about the handling of scrap materials previously shared among employees. Their message be say road construction no suppose mean workers must park their dignity beside the heavy equipment before dem fit do their jobs.

Coastal Highway: Big National Project, Big Responsibility

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway na one of the Federal Government’s major infrastructure projects. Government information describes the full route as a 750-kilometre highway planned to connect nine coastal states, while the Cross River and Akwa Ibom sections form part of the southern stretch being handled by Hitech. The project was flagged off in Cross River in April 2025, with the government presenting it as a route to improve transport links, trade and economic activities.

But the latest Salary Cuts dispute shows why infrastructure development no be only about concrete, drainage, machines and kilometres completed. In April 2026, reports about the project highlighted the government’s local-content expectations, with a substantial share of the workforce reportedly drawn from host communities. That makes workers’ allegations particularly important: if local people dey contribute their labour to a project wey promises economic opportunities, their wages, welfare and treatment deserve proper attention. Still, local employment figures from earlier reports no automatically prove or disprove the current allegations against individual managers.

Nigeria’s Labour Act also contains provisions on wage deductions, employment terms and working hours. The legal position depends on the particular employment arrangement and circumstances, but employers cannot simply assume that every deduction is acceptable because dem control the payroll. The reported gap between hours allegedly worked and hours paid for deserves a careful examination of attendance records, shift schedules, contracts and payslips. An independent review by the relevant labour authorities could help establish whether workers are owed money and whether any employment rules have been breached.

In response to the protest, Ukpayang reportedly expressed solidarity with the workers and confirmed that complaints about salary deductions and unpaid entitlements had reached him. He also said the wife of the Cross River State governor, Eyoanwan Otu, had earlier raised workers’ welfare concerns with Hitech management. Ukpayang promised to engage the company’s senior management, the Federal Controller of Works and the Minister of Works to help arrange negotiations, while urging workers to remain peaceful and choose representatives for dialogue. Reports on Wednesday indicated that work at the yard remained grounded as the workers maintained their demands.

The matter now needs more than promises and protest songs. Hitech management should publicly address the allegations, explain any changes to paid working hours, review disputed payments and investigate the reported welfare concerns. The relevant government authorities should also ensure that negotiations produce measurable results rather than another round of meetings where everybody talks but nobody’s salary changes. The demand for the removal of the expatriate managers should be assessed fairly, based on evidence and due process, not nationality alone.

For now, the Coastal Highway dispute remains a test of whether Nigeria’s big infrastructure ambitions can move forward alongside accountability and respect for workers. A highway may carry goods, connect cities and create economic opportunities, but the people building it must not feel as if their wages have taken a different route from their labour. OGM News Pidgin go continue to monitor the negotiations, the company’s response and whether the workers’ demands lead to a lasting resolution.