Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has threatened to shut the nation’s seaport over alleged failure of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to increase workers’ salaries for over 18 years.
Speaking at a meeting with the NPA Branch of the MWUN on Tuesday, President General of the union Com. Adewale Adeyanju, lamented that all is not well with the workers at NPA, informing that salaries of the workers have not been reviewed in the past 18 years as compared to sister agency like the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) which have enjoyed steady salary increase and promotion.He said: “I never knew about this anomaly because your branch president was keeping this silent from me. This matter came to my notice on October 1st when some senior members of NPA came to my house to inform me.
“Also, members at Onne Port have started grumbling and giving the union ultimatum, or else they are ready to take laws into their own hands”
“We have supported this management enough; it is now time for them to reward us back by paying our members properly”
“All is not well in the NPA, the workers are not being treated well, their salaries are poor, there is stagnation in workers’ promotion, and we are ready to go all the way with NPA management, we may even shutdown the ports
“From 2004 till date, salaries have not been increased, I just can’t believe it, you need to challenge us as your representatives.
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“And if NPA don’t do it on time, workers will take their salaries into their hands
“NIMASA promoted about 500 of our members last month, so why is it that the landlord of the ports has not done so in the last 18years, the workers are not happy with the management of NPA” he lamented.
Also speaking the Deputy President General, Com. Tonye Harry also stated that workers are bleeding and suffering due to lack of promotion and increment in salaries, while lamenting shortage of junior staff at NPA.
He said many of the staff of NPA have remained in level 7 without promotion or salary increment, he said “For over 16 years those of us in level 7 have remained in level 7 they said some of us have jammed bar, and there is no promotion and salary increment, and if NPA did not employ junior staff between now and February there be no junior staff anymore in NPA” he said.
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