SSASCGOC Maritime Demands 2% Remittance For Port Development From Customs

By Roland Ekama

The Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) Maritime Branch has advocated that Nigerian Customs Service remit at least 2% of its total annual revenue for Nigeria. ports Authority (NPA) as port infrastructure development levy

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) affiliate Union disclosed this on Friday, December 13 2024 during the National Central Working Committee (NCWC) retreat held in Kwara State.

President of SSASCGOC Maritime Branch, Comrade Akinola Bodunde reiterated that revenue generated by the service running into trillions of naira bears no significance in port development.

According to him, the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA provides accommodation to the Service despite the huge revenue generation.

Comrade Bodunde explained that the pressure and burden on NPA for ports development was huge yet some other agencies of the government made humongous revenue without contributing to upgrade the infrastructure .

He stated that the 2% remittance by Customs for port development would go a long way in ensuring port efficiency and repairs of some decayed infrastructure.

The President affirmed that: “On a monthly basis, we hear the Customs declaring that they generate hundreds of billions to the federal government coffers. Sometimes they tell the public how they collect revenue in trillion on a quarterly or yearly basis but the ports that gave them these platforms to generate such revenue are not considered for maintenance purposes.

“I will suggest that a percentage should be given to the ports by the Customs for infrastructure development and that is what we are saying .

“NIMASA,Shippers Council , Customs and others are in the ports to make money yet it is NPA that is in charge to built infrastructure and for us, the pressure is too much for NPA to manage .

“We are calling on the government to look inward for Customs to give at least 2% of its total annual revenue to support NPA for port development “, Bodunde demanded.

According to him, NPA collects revenue for services rendered at the seaports but maintained that most of the infrastructure at Customs disposal were provided by management of NPA hence there was need for the Service to contribute to ports development financially .

While speaking on the motive behind the 3-day retreat, the union leader said the purpose was aimed to evaluate members performance in the last one year stressing that members of SSASCGOC Maritime Branch always assessed themselves before the year ends.

He added that the retreat also give them the opportunity to project and plan for a better new year in their of individual and collective performances as a union .

“The retreat is not a jamboree but an avenue where we sit down ,talk and discuss the way forward on how we can improve ports efficiency, individual productivity at work place so as to benefit the workers and union respectively “, the union leader said.

He expressed optimism that 2024 was a combination of mixed feelings for workers, even as he commended management of NPA for a friendly working relationship with the union.

On a high note , Bodunde assured members of the union that 2025 would be better despite the challenges faced by Nigerians in 2024.

Over sixty members and guests participated at the 2024 retreat put together by the union