MARINE NOTICE: MWUN Kicks Against Employers Non Compliance To Government Directives

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has kicked against dock labour employers non compliance to Federal Government directives for dockworkers and stevedores to gain access to their respective platforms saying the operators have failed to abide to the “Marine Notice” issued recently.

President General of MWUN , Comrade Adewale Adeyanju in a statement made available to DAILYFOCUS NIGERIA on Monday , said some of the stakeholders have continued to flay government directive by their blatant refusal to grant the government appointed and NIMASA registered stevedores and dock workers access to the operational areas allocated to them by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

According to him, the union will not seat back, and fold arms and watch members being disallowed to perform their statutory duties that fetch them their daily bread.

While expressing the Union’s commitment as law abiding labour group , Adeyanju promised to work in close synergy with the two government agencies to ensure compliance by the stakeholders .

The union boss also called on Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to expedite action for the dredging of the Calabar Port as part of efforts to boost revenue drive of the government and create job opportunities for people in the Niger Delta region of the country.

“MWUN, wish to direct the attention of the general public to a ‘MARINE NOTICE’ Government Notice No. 106 on Stevedoring regulations, 2014 issued by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) which has been widely published in the print and electronic media.

“The MARINE NOTICE — government notice No. 106 as well as the Associated Stevedoring regulation 2014 are operational guidelines issued by NIMASA to all dock labour employers and private operators of any work location including Ports, Jetties, Onshore or Offshore Oil and Gas or bonded terminals, inland container depots (ICDs), off dock terminals, dry ports and platforms.

“We have noticed with dismay that some of the stakeholders mentioned above have continued to flay this government directive by their blatant refusal to grant the government appointed and NIMASA registered stevedores and dock workers access to the operational areas allocated to them by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

“We therefore use this medium to sound a note of warning to those stakeholders who feel that they can always flaunt government directive with impunity and in effect expose our members to starvation, to have a rethink and allow the government approved and NIMASA registered stevedores and dock workers access without let or hindrance, the operational areas government allocated to them to perform their legitimate duties.

“We also want to acknowledge the commitment of the Managing Director, — Hadiza Bala Usman for the wonderful job done in the Authority which to as few include the payment of severance package to the Clerks and On — Board ship gang way security men, the drastic face of decayed infrastructure in etc.

“However, we would like to use this medium to’ request the Managing Director, NPA to look into the issue of dredging the Calabar channel which contract we are reliably informed had been awarded years back.

“We believe dredging the Calabar channel will positively boost trade and commerce in the Niger Delta area and will further help boost revenue to the Federal government while also creating employments for Nigerians.

“We want to assure the public of our readiness to partner with the two Government Agencies in maintaining peace and industrial harmony in the maritime sector and we will continue to do so as long as fairness, equity and justice which they have brought to bear in the system is maintained.

“We wish once again to express gratitude to our members, stakeholders, namely the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Management led by Ms Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman, Management of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) led by Dr. Bashir Jamoh and the Chairperson cf the Seaport Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN) Princess Vicky Heastrup, for creating conducive work environment for our members,”he noted.