SSASCFA Seeks Shippers Council Collaboration to Promote Port Economic Regulatory Mandates

By Roland Ekama

The Senior Staff Association of Shipping, Clearing, and Forwarding Agencies (SSASCFA) has sought collaboration with the management of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) to promote port economic regulatory mandates.

President General of SSASCFA, Comrade Harrison Ugochukwu Asonye, disclosed this on Thursday during a working visit to the Council’s management team led by the Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Pius Akutah, in Lagos.

Asonye, who gave a vivid description and scope of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) affiliate body, stated that SSASCFA is strategic in Nigeria’s shipping industry, thus the need to engage the port economic regulator to further solidify their relations.

According to him, the Council under the current Executive Secretary has continued to witness tremendous transformation in the industry, adding that the union will work closely with the Nigerian Shippers Council to ensure a better maritime industry.

Asonye reiterated that the visit was borne out of partnership because of Council’s port economic status, pointing out the union needs the Nigerian Shippers Council support for workers’ interests and emphasizing that SSASCFA is not involved in stakeholder engagements that affect its operations.

He assured the Nigerian Shippers Council team that SSASCFA is ready to play a critical role in supporting the Council’s role as the port economic regulator.

He said, “The Nigerian Shippers Council is our major regulator, not Customs, NIMASA, or NPA, and that is why we are here because we want you to protect our interests.

“We want you to monitor and regulate shipping companies effectively, as some issues affecting our scope and interests are being discussed without our input, even though our voice needs to be heard on such issues,” Asonye stressed.

Responding, the Executive Secretary assured the union that the Council will partner with the group, while describing SSASCFA as a critical stakeholder in the maritime industry.

Akutah stressed that the Nigerian Shippers Council holds stakeholders in the shipping subsector as key players, adding, “We are already partners; we are not partners today.”

He assured the union that the Council will not rest on its oars, pointing out that the relationship with SSASCFA is critical to the mandate of port economic regulatory roles.

Akutah called on the union to always bring information that will help address issues affecting port operations in a bid to promote a friendly working environment for international trade to thrive.