Members of the National Association Stevedoring Operators (NASO) on Wednesday gave what they called a situation report with regards to the controversial engagement by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) in On-Shore operations and called for more cooperation from the international companies.
Speaking at a meeting in Lagos, the President of NASO, Mr.Bolajil Sunmola said that the struggle to get the IOCs to engage his members is not over, adding that until operations in the stevedoring sub-sector is put in the right perspective, the fight will continue.
Sunmola disclosed that some of Stevedores have received their letter of contract and entered into agreements with some of these IOCs, but are yet to move to site, more than two months after.
He further disclosed that some of their members have commenced operation while others have been given dates to start work.
He commended the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority for midwifing the process of engaging the IOCs.
He said: “The compliance has been on the increase, like I said in my earlier remarks some companies have commenced work since December but discussion and agreement between stevedoring firms and the IOCs are still ongoing.
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“We still need much more to be done and I do not want to mention names so that we do not seem to be unfair to them and I know the NPA, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, are not sleeping because they have been part of the negotiation and midwifing process and have been helpful in this struggle and I know jointly we will get there shortly.
“About two or three companies have signed agreement with the IOCs and the good news I am hearing is that some are starting next week but it is not about agreements; we want the agreement to be operationalized and until when they get to site that we can say Uhuru.
He also disclosed that a stevedoring desk has been created in the Nigerian Ports Authority with a view to attending to issues and challenges being faced by stevedores, adding that the desk has been like the clearing house for stevedores in helping the management to take decision.
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