Dockworkers at the Niger Dock on Snake Island, Lagos, on Monday urged the federal government to probe the activities of the company.

The workers numbering about 100 had laid siege at the gates of the company in Tin Can Island to protest non-payment of their wages.

Reports say that the workers chanted solidarity songs to protest their alleged activities of the company.

The protesting workers carried placards with inscription: “we are enslaved in our fatherland in Niger Dock’’; President Goodluck Jonathan save us from this evil’’; and “a project of over N8 billion dollars: where is the money’’.

According to the information, Niger Dock Company, managed by Jagal Group, is into servicing of oil and gas companies, construction as well as fabrication of equipment.

Mr Christopher Igbegbe, a painter with the company, said the protest followed a notice by the management asking workers who want to continue to work with Niger Dock to reapply.

“In June, the management informed us that workers would henceforth not be paid salaries directly, but through an employment agent.

“The issue was resolved when our lawyer met the management and an agreement for the improvement of our working conditions was signed.

“We were shocked to see a notice on July 1 informing workers who want to continue to work with Jagal Group to re-apply,’’ Igbegbe said.

According to him, all efforts to ask for their years of entitlement failed as the management refused to discuss with them.

He claimed that the company which had been in existence for eight years pays workers a stipend of N8,000 per month and had refused to give any welfare package.

Mr Victor Peter, a fitter, said that most of the over 700 workers in the company had served for between 10 and 18 years without being confirmed as staff.

“Some of us have worked for between 10 and 18 years as casual workers. Now they want to layoff workers but would not want to pay us our entitlements,’’ he said.

Peter decried non-payment of incentives and the lack of respect for labour law which stipulates that a worker should be confirmed six months after employment.

Another worker, Mr Ben Vic, said they were protesting because some people were hired for only four months and paid N12, 000 monthly while a severance allowance of N1.2 million was paid to them.

“We have been enslaved over the years. We work from Monday to Sunday without leave, medical and extra duty allowances.

“We want Jagal group to pay us off and let us leave. We are tired of enslavement,’’ he said.

Efforts by NAN to reach Mr Joe Boulous, Administration Manager of Jagal Group, failed as he did not pick his calls.