Employees of Currenters Nigeria Limited, a major waste management company in Port Harcourt, have raised alarm over the unlawful liquidation of their employer and the refusal of its directors to settle long-standing staff entitlements.
The company, which had handled onshore and offshore waste disposal for Saipem since 2004, is now embroiled in allegations of corporate fraud, unsafe work practices, and human rights violations.
Currenters Nigeria Limited was jointly owned by Dr Francis Baker, Dr Samuel Onudiwe, Chief Amanchukwu, and Dr Alfred Esen (later removed from the board).
For years, the company was responsible for managing both hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated by Saipem under a frame agreement signed in 2003.
However, the firm’s operations suffered a major setback following Saipem’s takeover by Macronic, an Indian firm, which declined to renew the subcontract.
Without any formal notice to employees, the directors allegedly proceeded to liquidate the company’s assets, selling off two Mack trucks and several plots of land in Port Harcourt at undervalued prices.
Workers, some of whom had served faithfully for over 20 years, were reportedly offered a meagre three-month severance pay, without proper calculation of accrued benefits, gratuities, or pensions.
Several employees have also accused the company of gross occupational safety violations.
They allege that they were exposed to toxic waste without protective gear, and that management repeatedly ignored reports of work-related illnesses.
According to multiple accounts, at least three workers have died from health complications linked to prolonged exposure to hazardous substances.
“We worked day and night handling dangerous waste, sometimes without gloves or masks. Now many of us are sick, and the company is pretending we don’t exist,” said one affected staff member who pleaded for anonymity.
The aggrieved workers are now calling on the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Rivers State Government, and the Civil Rights Council to intervene and ensure justice is served.
They are demanding a full audit of Currenters Nigeria Limited’s assets, payment of all outstanding entitlements, and compensation for the health and safety risks they endured.
Human rights activists, including members of the Civil Rights Council, have expressed readiness to support the victims’ pursuit of justice through both legal and media advocacy.
“This case represents a clear violation of labour and human rights standards,” said Comrade Sundrix Ogor, a rights activist and Rivers State Coordinator of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC). “No company has the right to exploit and discard workers who have dedicated their lives to its success.”
The workers have vowed to continue their peaceful campaign until the directors of Currenters Nigeria Limited are held accountable and their rights fully restored.
