Embattled management of Port Harcourt-based BUA Port and Terminal which has been having a running battle with the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) over the controversial engagement of foreigners has agree to sack the expatriates.
Those to be sacked and replaced with Nigerians are the foreign crew, dockworkers as well as other hands who are engaged aboard MV BUA Cement 1; a dual purpose ship which is anchored in Port Harcourt port, Rivers State and which also doubles as a factory.
There are 28 Srilankans, 12 Ukrainians and three Greeks who are performing different responsibilities on the ship; a discovery which angered the MWUN which recently threatened to go on strike if the foreigners were not replaced with qualified Nigerians.
On the strength of the threat which actually led to stoppage of work at the BUA Terminal in Port Harcourt port, both Nigerian Ports Authourity and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency waded in and reportedly insisted that the recommendations of the committee that was set up to probe the allegations must be implemented.
Sources at the meetings which held last week confirmed that the management of BUA was confronted with the committee’s findings and were made to give an undertaking to relieve the expatriates of their employment.
However, the president general, MWUN, Comrade Anthony Nted Emmanuel confirmed to our correspondent last weekend that the management of BUA has agreed to sack all the foreigners who are engaged on board MV BUA Cement 1 and replace them with qualified Nigerians.
“They asked for two months starting from Thursday to comply and we are waiting to see what they will do, we can not afford to have Nigerians been denied of jobs that they are qualified for while foreigners come to shores to do same”, he stressed and vowed not to relent until total compliance is achieved.
Those to be sacked and replaced with Nigerians are the foreign crew, dockworkers as well as other hands who are engaged aboard MV BUA Cement 1; a dual purpose ship which is anchored in Port Harcourt port, Rivers State and which also doubles as a factory.
There are 28 Srilankans, 12 Ukrainians and three Greeks who are performing different responsibilities on the ship; a discovery which angered the MWUN which recently threatened to go on strike if the foreigners were not replaced with qualified Nigerians.
On the strength of the threat which actually led to stoppage of work at the BUA Terminal in Port Harcourt port, both Nigerian Ports Authourity and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency waded in and reportedly insisted that the recommendations of the committee that was set up to probe the allegations must be implemented.
Sources at the meetings which held last week confirmed that the management of BUA was confronted with the committee’s findings and were made to give an undertaking to relieve the expatriates of their employment.
However, the president general, MWUN, Comrade Anthony Nted Emmanuel confirmed to our correspondent last weekend that the management of BUA has agreed to sack all the foreigners who are engaged on board MV BUA Cement 1 and replace them with qualified Nigerians.
“They asked for two months starting from Thursday to comply and we are waiting to see what they will do, we can not afford to have Nigerians been denied of jobs that they are qualified for while foreigners come to shores to do same”, he stressed and vowed not to relent until total compliance is achieved.
Discussion about this post