The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) yesterday raised an alarm that more than 6000 members of the union have lost their jobs a result of the economic recession which has also affected the Nigerian maritime sector.
President General of the MWUN; Comrade Anthony Nted Emmanuel have the shocking figure in Lagos at the opening of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria’s National Executive Council meeting and Special Delegates Conference.
Comrade Nted said that government appeared not to be concerned about the level of hardship in the country, and does not seem to know what to do to end the current economy recession.
He stressed the need for all Nigerians to seek the face of God in prayers for intervention, considering the state of the economy.
According to him, most shipping companies that were forced to close shops in Nigeria have relocated outside the country, thus making more members of the union to lose their jobs, and the economy more gloomy for Nigerians.
He advised that government should look beyond the party in power and assemble a credible economic team without tribal and religious bias and with proven knowledge and ability to pull the economy out of recession within the shortest possible time.
Nted told the gathering that INTELS Nigeria Limited alone had sacked about 3000 workers so far because recession.
He told the delegates who are members from the union across its four branches that: "The situation is so terrible that over 6,000 members of our union have lost their jobs since the recession and many more are to go,thus exposing the lives of their families into serious jeopardy"
"Many shipping companies which were forced to close shops have since relocated outside our country, thus making the future even more gloomy".
Speaking further, Nted lamented that members of the union are facing a very difficult task of securing jobs, which according to him cut across all branches.
"Where Collective Bargaining Agreement and Condition of Service Negotiations are due for review, the union is now forced to accept marginal increase where possible and trading off increment with withdrawal of redundancy threats and the situation is as difficult as that''.
"In the face of the prevailing economic recession, many companies are closing shops and redundancy is now a common feature in most companies”, he acknowledged.
On the lingering court case in the issue of tally clerks and on board security, the labour leader expressed hope that their jobs would be restored to them at the seaports and jetties nationwide.
The MWUN President General however called on the government to wake up to its constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and properties of Nigerians and foreigners living in the country.
Also lamenting the deplorable state of the roads leading to the seaports in the country, the President General stated that the union had written several letters to concerned authority, yet there has been no sign of rehabilitation work.
He said "we have written several letters including issuance of ultimatum over these roads and the only good news and hope is that management of the NPA has last week wrote that contracts have been awarded for the rehabilitation of the roads"
The union consequently urged the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to ensure that the roads leading to the seaports are fixed before the end of first quarter of 2017.
He cautioned that, if nothing is done within the stipulated time frame, the MWUN shall be compelled to take necessary action, without further notice.
"However, we are watching and if after three to six months, we do not see concrete evidence on ground, we shall be compelled to take necessary action without further notice", he threatened.
Also speaking, the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Dr Dakuku Peterside promised that the agency will continue to synergise with the union for the sector to move forward.
The NIMASA DG who was represented by the Director in Maritime Labour Services, Mrs Juliana Gunwa, said that the agency has put in place measures to ensure that workers’ condition of service is looked into by all concern parties, stressing the need for workers’ remuneration to be at par with their foreign counterparts.
On her part Registrar of the Trade Union; Mrs. Chinyere Mbogu lauded the MWUN for the industrial peace which exists in the maritime sector.
Declaring the event open, Mrs Mbogu recalled that gone are the days when MWUN members were confrontational with their employers, adding that there has been transformation of members.
Also speaking at the event, President, Senior Staff Association of Communication, Transport And Corporation (SSACTAC), Maritime Branch; Comrade Benson Adegbeyeni called on all maritime unions to work in harmony.
He however stressed the need for government to address the issue of forex.
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