Twelve Stevedoring Companies Set To Commence Payments Of Disengaged Dockworkers

At least twelve stevedoring companies have been approved by the Federal Government for the payment of severance incentives for disengaged tally clerks and onboard security men.

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) ,through the President General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju had announced payments of the affected dockworkers on the 23rd of December but was postponed to 30th December 2019.

But sequel to the approval by the Federal Ministry of Transportation for severance incentives to be paid to the disengaged tally clerks and onboard security men, the committee has embarked on the payment exercise which is expected to commence in Lagos.

The President General at a meeting with members of the dockworkers branch of the union on Saturday, disclosed that the exercise in Lagos will take place between December 30th to January 3rd 2020 at the Nigerian Ports Authority sport Complex in Surulere Lagos, adding that a total of eight stevedoring companies would partake in the payment process.

The stevedoring companies in a statement obtained by our correspondents to commence payment in Lagos on Monday, include: Basisha Global, Excellence Dominion , Dock Worth Services Limited Matral Marine and Westerland International.

Blue Ocean will embark on its payment exercise on Tuesday 31st December while Long Shore 1 and Long Shore 2 is expected to do same on the 2nd and 3rd of January , 2020.

Also, for the affected dockworkers in Rivers Port, Patrade Nigeria Limited will commence payment on January 15th 2020 at Dockyard Canteen , while Insight Maritime will also do same at Staff Canteen Onne Port.

Similarly in Calabar Port, FairDeal Agencies embark on the payment exercise on January 17 2020 .

The exercise would be concluded at NPA canteen in Delta Port with Bisbiak Enterprises.

The Union’s boss however , urged members who do not have any business being at the venue to stay away and allow a seamless process.

Adeyanju added that the payment exercise would be amid tight security in a bid to ensure a peaceful process.

Meanwhile, Adeyanju has also debunked scamming the disengaged dock workers even as he said the amount paid to them was decided by the Ministry of Transportation.

The union leader also lauded the Ministers of Transportation , Rotimi Ameachi, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of Labour and Productivity , Senator Chris Ngige , President Nigerian Labour Congress ,Ayuba Wabba and the Managing Director , Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA),Hadiza Bala Usman for their respective support to ensuring payments of the workers.

He said, “I don’t know what they mean by scam. I met this matter on ground and we did all we could to make sure that something was offered them.

“These are the people that have been removed from the ports because the concession arrangement did not recognise tally clerk and on-board security men.

” That is when the appointment of their employers was terminated in 2015.

“So, they sacked everybody and I want to commend the Ministers of Labour and Transportation and the Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki who through their wisdom gave approval that a severance package be given to the dock workers that have been sacked along with their contractors in 2015.

“I thought it won’t be easy talking to the government while the case is in the court so, I advised that it should be withdrawn from court. Tally clerks form integral part of dock workers and if you look at our NJIC, it is very clear, they fall under extra services, they are daily paid workers.

“You know we have three modes of operation in the port, we have permanent employment, we have payment by tonnage and we have extra services. The tally clerks fall in that category.

“Now, as I am talking, majority of them have collected their pensions from pension administrators and it was this same Adeyanju and other leaders that fought for it before they were paid.”