Stakeholders Acknowledge Shippers’ Council As The Economic Regulator

Stakeholders Acknowledge Shippers’ Council As The Economic Regulator    

Ahead of the expected court ruling in December, 2014 in the suit between the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the terminal operators and shipping lines, the meeting that was called by the Minister of Transport to resolve the face-off has acknowledged the powers of the Council as the economic regulators of the port system.

Those who attended the meeting included:  the National Presidents of ANLCA, NAGAFF, NCMDLCA,AREFFN, Representatives of Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Representatives of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, and  APM Terminal, among others.

The meeting reportedly agreed that it was appropriate toinvoke powers inherent in the Act of Parliament establishing the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, upon which it directed that the controversial charges be returned to their pre-2009 levels.

On the planned strike by Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the Minister of Transport directed the union to shelve the action. The union had threatened to begin the strike on 17th of November 2014.

Sources at the meeting told our correspondent that the MWUN president general was literally dumbfounded after he was enlightened by the Shippers’ Council team on the implication of the actions of the terminal operators and shipping companies on Nigerian economy.

The union was also informed in the presence of the terminal operators that stakeholders were carried along before the directive to cut charges was given.

Our source said: "Apparently he was not aware of what was going on, after they were properly enlightened, he said that he did not know this was the true picture"

“The union was made to understand that appropriate consultations with relevant stakeholders were held, before the Shippers Council Public Notice was published”

"The minister directed that the strike be suspended because reversing shipping charges does not affect maritime workers in any way, rather it brings about efficiency for them".

Ahead of the expected court ruling in December, 2014 in the suit between the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the terminal operators and shipping lines, the meeting that was called by the Minister of Transport to resolve the face-off has acknowledged the powers of the Council as the economic regulators of the port system.

Those who attended the meeting included:  the National Presidents of ANLCA, NAGAFF, NCMDLCA,AREFFN, Representatives of Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Representatives of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, and  APM Terminal, among others.

The meeting reportedly agreed that it was appropriate toinvoke powers inherent in the Act of Parliament establishing the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, upon which it directed that the controversial charges be returned to their pre-2009 levels.

On the planned strike by Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the Minister of Transport directed the union to shelve the action. The union had threatened to begin the strike on 17th of November 2014.

Sources at the meeting told our correspondent that the MWUN president general was literally dumbfounded after he was enlightened by the Shippers’ Council team on the implication of the actions of the terminal operators and shipping companies on Nigerian economy.

The union was also informed in the presence of the terminal operators that stakeholders were carried along before the directive to cut charges was given.

Our source said: "Apparently he was not aware of what was going on, after they were properly enlightened, he said that he did not know this was the true picture"

“The union was made to understand that appropriate consultations with relevant stakeholders were held, before the Shippers Council Public Notice was published”

"The minister directed that the strike be suspended because reversing shipping charges does not affect maritime workers in any way, rather it brings about efficiency for them".

Those who attended the meeting included:  the National Presidents of ANLCA, NAGAFF, NCMDLCA,AREFFN, Representatives of Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Representatives of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, and  APM Terminal, among others.

The meeting reportedly agreed that it was appropriate toinvoke powers inherent in the Act of Parliament establishing the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, upon which it directed that the controversial charges be returned to their pre-2009 levels.

On the planned strike by Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the Minister of Transport directed the union to shelve the action. The union had threatened to begin the strike on 17th of November 2014.

Sources at the meeting told our correspondent that the MWUN president general was literally dumbfounded after he was enlightened by the Shippers’ Council team on the implication of the actions of the terminal operators and shipping companies on Nigerian economy.

The union was also informed in the presence of the terminal operators that stakeholders were carried along before the directive to cut charges was given.

Our source said: "Apparently he was not aware of what was going on, after they were properly enlightened, he said that he did not know this was the true picture"

“The union was made to understand that appropriate consultations with relevant stakeholders were held, before the Shippers Council Public Notice was published”

"The minister directed that the strike be suspended because reversing shipping charges does not affect maritime workers in any way, rather it brings about efficiency for them".