We Are Proud Of  Maritime Unions Scientific Approach On Workers Welfare, Negotiation – NPA Boss

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) , Hadiza Bala Usman on Thursday , expressed satisfaction over the scientific methodology of the maritime unions in approaching issues bothering on workers welfare and negotiation with management.

 

Usman who lauded leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Governmemt Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) Maritime Branch, for purchasing  vehicles for operational convenience for its members,made the submission in Lagos, during the commissioning and allocation of seven Toyota Sienna to the various zones of the union across the nation’s ports .

 

The union had purchased seven vehicles for members in furtherance to ease movement and operations across the various zones.

 

Earlier before the commissioning, the NPA boss described the feat as first of its kind, saying it was typical for union leaders to divert cash for selfish gains but expressed shock to see that the leadership of SSASCGOC utilised  members’ funds for developmental projects.

 

 

The highly elated MD who was represented at the occasion by the General Manager, Human Resources, NPA, Mrs.Harirat Mohammed said that the union should continue in its present stead in order to continue achieving more feats.

 

According to her, the two unions in the maritime sector have proven to be scientific in their approach with management of NPA over workers welfare and negotiation , adding that gone are the days of hooliganism, walk away from meetings and display of high-handedness .

 

Her words, “The message from the MD is that this is something that has not happened before, and as she always tells administrative employees about vehicles, she wishes that you maintain this vehicles and used them for the purpose for which they were bought.

 

“She prays for more and more success, togetherness, progress .

 

“It has never happened that a union spends out of its coffers for training and for purchase of vehicles

 

“The short time I have been in HR, I have seen a subtle but steadfast union, people may not know but we are seeing how dogged you are.

 

“Even as GM, there are many things I thought are not possible but that the union has go them through in a subtle and polite way.

 

Earlier President of SSASCGOC Maritime, Comrade Abubakar Abdullahi urged members of the zonal executives to ensure proper usage and maintenance of the vehicles.

 

He  appealed  to the management to prevail on the various Port Managers in the fueling and maintenance of the welfare buses.

 

 

The President noted “Am also using this medium to appeal to this wonderful executive management to extend their hands of fellowship to the Branch Executive Council by procuring for the Branch One Hummer Bus and One Hilux Pick-up Van for ease of official movement.

 

 

“Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority it is my singular honour and priviledge to have you present here to gracefully commission these buses for the use of the workforce of Nigerian Ports Authority under the supervision of various Zonal Chairmen.

 

“This present Executive Council came on board two years ago and on assumption of office were faced with diverse challenges, ranging from 3rd Party Towage, Stagnation, Promotion, Covid-19 pandemic and general staff welfare matters. These are not without dealing with the inflation rate in the nation which plunged the country into recession.

 

“In all of these challenges, you and your team had stood by the workforce despite pressures to downsize. We the Union on behalf of the workers are particularly grateful to you and your team in your steadfastness being there for us, most importantly on staff welfare issues.

 

“It is worthy of note that there has been no agitation by the union that you and your team had turned deaf-ears to.

 

“In the midst of all these challenges, the union had tried to as a matter of priority put staff welfare on the Front burner by reaching out to all workers during the first wave of Covid-19 Pandemic; And also reaching out to all cadres of workers with protracted illness in all Port locations, these are first of its kind. Training and retraining of members which Is ongoing and now the purchase of these seven buses for ease of movement.

 

“There is no doubt in our minds that this meticulous management will consider the plight of the Branch Executive Council as it has not been their characteristic.”

 

Highpoint of the occasion was the key presentation to zonal executives by a former president of the union, Comrade Omeiza Jimoh Umar.

By Roland Ekama