Dockworkers from ENL Terminal, a seaport terminal in Apapa Lagos, yesterday stormed the headquarters of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to stage a protest.
The protests began exactly when it was time for the newly-appointed Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman to officially take over from her predecessor; Alhaji Habib Abdullahi.
The placard-carrying workers blocked the entrance of the NPA, chanting solidarity songs and demanding for NPA's intervention in their case against ENL Terminal. They alleged that ENL Terminal owed dockworkers salaries and pensions for the past 10 years.
They also alleged that the terminal was guilty of casualization.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman has said that the executive management of the NPA under her watch would have ensure zero tolerance to corruption at the port.
At the handing-over ceremony which held at the NPA headquarters in Marina, Lagos yesterday, she promised to facilitate improved revenue generation and in-flows into the national treasury.
She noted that the port is a critical artery of Nigeria's economy, and it is the duty of NPA management to ensure that operators deliver port services at the standard that port business deserves in the 21st century.
Speaking she said: "While supporting the President's agenda on economic diversity, we will facilitate port efficiency to enhance improved revenue generation and in-flow into the national treasury"
"We will listen to our customers, importers, exporters and other agencies working in the port to improve on our service delivery to the nation, anything less than world class service is simply not acceptable"
"We shall prioritise investment in infrastructure and importation and services committed to by the NPA in the concession agreement to hasten import and export at the port"
To the staff, she said: "Let us uphold the most diligent work ethics in our individual beats as well as collective undertakings required to achieve results. Everyone at the NPA has a role to promote best practices in upholding good governance, standards and delivering quality services"
We will jointly work hard with integrity and zero tolerance for corruption. As the new management settles in, we would be listening to your concerns and suggestions" she said.
Speaking earlier, former NPA boss, Habib Abdullahi congratulated Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman for inheriting the best staff of any government agency. He said that NPA staff are highly trained professionals, even as he charged the workers to accord the new MD their maximum corporation.
"With the support of the GM's and AGM's, you will achieve a lot"
"I have been around so many ports around the world but I want to say with all pride that these set of staff are the best in the world. They are really experienced and no matter what task you put them through, they will deliver, they are very well trained" he told his sucessor.
While listing some of the achievements of the agency under his watch, Abdullahi said that NPA has been able to automate all its payment systems with stakeholders and that it is integrated with other agencies of government, particularly the Nigeria Customs Service.
He also said that the channels have been dredged and that Nigerian Ports is the only port that receives WAFMAX vessels in the sub-region.
Habib urged the NPA boss to as a matter of urgency recruit more staff into the agency as the present crop of professionals will soon be going into retirement. He added that not less than 520 staff of NPA were promoted in 2015 alone.
"In five years time, more than 50% of the present management will be out, you have to look into succession and recruitment of more hands" he said.
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