But for last meeting intervention of the Minister of Labour and Productivity; Chief Emaka Wogu, the nation’s seaports would have been shut by angry members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).
The union had planned the nationwide strike to commence yesterday, but the Federal Government hurriedly called a meeting for Monday in Abuja.
But for last meeting intervention of the Minister of Labour and Productivity; Chief Emaka Wogu, the nation’s seaports would have been shut by angry members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).
The union had planned the nationwide strike to commence yesterday, but the Federal Government hurriedly called a meeting for Monday in Abuja.
The meeting was attended by the MWUN which was led by its president general; Comrade Tony Nted Emmanuel while the government delegation had the minister as well as the management of both the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Sources at the meeting informed Shipping Position Daily that NPA requested for time to study the cost implication of the workers’ demand.
The workers under the dockworkers branch are protesting alleged 13 months unpaid salaries of tally clerks, on board security men.
There had been ding-dong between the union and the NPA over the demand, a development which culminated in the notice of industrial action by the union.
And after waiting endlessly , the union had given the management of NPA up to this week to pay the salaries and also resolve other grievances, failing which, the union would embark on strike and shut all the nation’s seaports.
Confirming the development to our correspondent yesterday, the president general of MWUN, Comrade Tony Nted Emmanuel added that were it not for the Federal Government’s intervention, the union had concluded plans to shut operations in all the ports.
He also confirmed that NPA has agreed to pay the aggrieved workers. NPA asked that it should be given till next week to study the cost implication of the arrears”.
He also argued that the controversial cargo surveyors which NPA brought allegedly in to supplant members of the union are unacceptable and represents an attempt to deceitfully take over the job of the dockworkers.
According to him, right from the time of Joint Dock Labour Industrial Council and the Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council, the status and responsibilities of dockworkers have always been spelt out.
He vowed that the MWUN would not relent until; the tally clerks and the on board security are paid the arrears of salaries, which according to him, is about 13 months as at the end of July.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the union had earlier through a petition to President Goodluck Jonathan, given a 14-day ultimatum on June 12, after which the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu intervened.
The union had in the petition claimed that NPA had for the past 11 months refused to pay tally clerks, onboard security men and others, but had been spending not less than N300million monthly to pay illegal employees known as Cargo surveyors, who had nothing to do in the ports.
According to the union, the dockworkers including the tally clerks and on-board security men were registered by the National Dock Labour Board to work in the sea ports, private terminals and jetties and were trained in the act of cargo handling/loading and discharging of ships.
MWUN alleged that the so-called cargo surveyors engaged by NPA are alien to the NIMASA Act 2007, which regulates maritime labour activities in Nigerian ports.
In the petition, the union added that: “On-board Security men are involved in watching over cargo to avoid theft and over boarding and to prevent unauthorized shore leave through the gangway by crew members. Their function also helps to prevent attack of vessels in the Ports by terrorist and pirates in line with requirement of the ISPS code on port and ship security and safety.”
But, the union’s President General told our correspondent yesterday that, were it not for the petition, NPA would perpetually shut the doors of the ports against the on-board security men and tally clerks.
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