The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has issued a three weeks warning to Nigerian shipowners to ensure that the newly signed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) by the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) is implemented or face the wrath of the union.
President General of the union, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju issued the warning while speaking with journalists at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Lagos at the weekend.
Adeyanju also informed the stakeholders present at the event that the Ministry of Labour has intervened and is working out modalities on how tally clerks and onboard security men would possibly be given back their jobs and their entitlements owed them by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) paid
He argued that Tally Clerks and Onboard Security personnel are an integral part of dock labour operations but that heir services were unilaterally terminated by the Nigerian Ports Authority. According to him, since then, terminal benefits which are due to the affected workers have not been paid.
Speaking on the Nigerian ship owners’ foot dragging on the signing of their part of the recently concluded CBA for seafarers by the NJIC, the MWUN President said “NIMASA is holding meetings with the Shipowners, but if after three weeks nothing is done, we would pounce on them”
On the termination of tally clerks and onboard security men by the NPA, he said “The issue of the employee and the employer have not been resolved, they only terminated the appointment of the stevedoring contractors, what about the workers? Their terminal benefits have not been paid, a Conciliator has been formed by the ministry of Labour to intervene in this matter between the NPA, the union and the stevedoring contractors”
“The union wrote several letters to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment who has appointed a conciliator to mediate and find an amicable solution to the issue. We have also informed the International Transport Workers Federation (lTF) as regards developments in relation to the uncertainty work status of Tally Clerks and On Board Security personnel in Nigeria” he said.
Lamenting the preponderance of foreign owned vessels who do not meet Nigeria’s Cabotage Law requirements, Adeyanju said the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) should ensure compliance to the Cabotage Law and in this whilst create jobs for the teeming Seafarers.
He said “The era where Phillipinos and other Nationalities took over the job of our Indigenous nationals should be eradicated. Our Nigerian Seafarers are well trained, experienced and ready: They should not be denied the opportunity to serve”
Also speaking at the NEC meeting, Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman charged the union to use the meeting as an opportunity to challenge the statusquo and come up with workable initiatives that would garner solutions for the maritime sector.
Represented by Koni Awonisiko, the NPA boss commended the union for the industrial peace that has pervaded the maritime industry, she said that this is unconnected with the maturity and corporation displayed by the leadership of the union and urged that the peace be sustained.
She said that the management of the authority places high premium on its relationship with the union and appreciated the fact that workers welfare has been of great concern to the union.
The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside said that NIMASA enjoys a good relationship with the union, commending the union for maintaining harmonious working relationship in the sector.
Represented by Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Ibrahim Jubril, Peterside said the agency in 2018 has facilitated the training of 370 Nigerian seafarers in relevant courses leading to certification on STCW among others. He also said that 560 dockworkers benefitted from a training programme on occupational safety and health which was developed in line with ILO code of practice.
On his part, President of National Association of Stevedoring Companies, Bolaji Sunmola assured the union that their employers, the stevedoring companies are not resting on their oars, assuring that new vistas would be opened to the union in places hitherto restricted. He said that this would lead to more employment.
Discussion about this post