33 Months Without Pay, Niger Delta Houseboat Contractors Seek Tinubu’s Intervention
Three indigenous firms say unpaid rentals have left workers struggling and vessels overdue for maintenance as settlement talks continue before the Federal High Court.
Three indigenous Niger Delta companies providing houseboats for military operations in the region have appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what they describe as 33 months of unpaid rental obligations.
The companies — Peaches Integrated Services Limited, Etucom Integrated Services Limited and Godsam Industrial Services Limited — made the appeal in an open letter contained in a media release obtained by Solution Media.
The contractors said their vessels have remained in operational custody while payments have allegedly remained unsettled for 33 months.
The companies provide houseboats used by troops operating in the Niger Delta creeks. They describe the vessels as floating operational bases that accommodate, feed and provide shelter for troops during extended patrols in areas where conventional barracks and other facilities may not be available.
The dispute has now moved beyond a commercial disagreement, with the contractors raising concerns about their workers, the condition of the vessels and the need for a structured payment system for indigenous marine service providers.
Workers Bear The Brunt
According to the companies, the financial consequences have reached the workers who crew the vessels.
They said their crews include marine engineers, deckhands, cooks, security personnel, riggers and drivers, many of whom are young people from the Niger Delta who depend on the work for their livelihoods.
The contractors alleged that many workers have gone months without salaries, while some families are struggling with school fees, medical expenses and rent.
The companies also disclosed that affected workers marched in Port Harcourt last month to draw attention to their situation.
They stressed that the demonstration was not directed against the Nigerian Army but was intended as an appeal to the government and the wider Nigerian public.
According to the open letter, the workers themselves asked management to take their case to the President.
Houseboats Face Maintenance Concerns
Beyond the unpaid bills, the contractors raised concerns about the condition of the vessels.
They said houseboats require periodic dry-docking, servicing and recertification, but the vessels have remained in continuous service without the maintenance cycle they require.
The companies argued that prolonged delays in maintenance could affect the condition of the vessels and reduce the value of indigenous marine assets available to the country.
They are therefore asking that the affected vessels be released in rotation so they can undergo maintenance and recertification before returning to operational service. PayTheBoatOwners_Media_Release_Pack.pdf
This concern has also featured in recent reporting on the dispute.
The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt recently gave the parties until October 22, 2026, to report on efforts to reach an amicable settlement. The case involves the three companies and government defendants, including the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe.
Contractors Seek Three Presidential Directives
The companies are not asking President Tinubu to determine the merits of the court case.
Instead, they are seeking executive action on three specific issues.
First, they want the President to direct the Minister of Defence and the Office of the National Security Adviser to verify their outstanding entitlements and facilitate settlement.
Second, they want the affected vessels released in rotation for maintenance, certification and eventual return to operational service.
Third, they are asking for a permanent payment framework for houseboat and marine service providers working with the Armed Forces.
The contractors said such a framework would prevent indigenous service providers from carrying government obligations for extended periods without payment.
Court Settlement Process Underway
The appeal to Tinubu comes as the contractors and government defendants continue discussions in the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
Recent court reporting shows that the Commander of Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, requested a proposal towards an amicable settlement.
Justice Stephen Pam subsequently adjourned the matter to October 22 for the parties to report on the progress of the settlement process.
However, counsel representing the first defendant reportedly told the court that he was not aware of the settlement proposal, underscoring that the process remained subject to further proceedings.
The contractors’ latest appeal therefore does not seek to replace the judicial process but asks the executive arm to verify the outstanding obligations and support a settlement backed by payment.
‘We Are Not Asking For A Favour’
In their letter, the contractors framed the dispute around payment for services they say were ordered, delivered and accepted.
“We are not asking for a favour. We are asking to be paid for work that was ordered, performed and accepted,” the companies said.
They also appealed to the President to consider the wider impact of the dispute on indigenous businesses and their employees.
The companies said resolving the matter would help restore the affected firms, return workers to regular salaries and allow the vessels to undergo the maintenance required for continued service.
They further appealed for a payment framework that would provide greater certainty for indigenous marine contractors working with the Armed Forces.
What The Dispute Means For The Niger Delta
The houseboat contractors’ case sits at the intersection of government contracting, local content, workers’ livelihoods and military logistics.
The companies say their vessels have continued supporting operations despite the alleged payment arrears.
Recent reports have similarly highlighted concerns over the condition of the boats and the financial pressure on workers whose employers say they have been unable to settle salary obligations because of the prolonged dispute.
For now, the central issues remain before the Federal High Court, while settlement discussions are expected to continue ahead of the October 22 reporting date.
The contractors, however, are separately asking the Presidency to act on the payment and maintenance issues, while insisting that their appeal is not a request for presidential intervention in the judicial proceedings.
Their message to the Federal Government is straightforward: verify the outstanding obligations, facilitate payment, release the vessels for maintenance and establish a framework that prevents a repeat of the 33-month dispute.
