Maritime Workers, SSACGOC demand withdrawal of Ports and Harbour Bill
- Groups say privatization of harbours, jetties will pose security threats
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) on Monday in a joint press briefing in Lagos, kicked against attempts by the National Assembly to revisit the Ports and Harbour Bill.
President General of the MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju and the President, SSACGOC Maritime Branch, Comrade Akin Bodunde, advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be guarded about the legislation, which could threaten his commitment to the creation of five million jobs for Nigerians through the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
The Bill, the groups recalled, was earlier initiated in the 8th National Assembly, was stopped from becoming law through the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians, stakeholders and the exerted efforts of the two in-house unions- MWUN & SSASCGOC.
“We wish to note that this said bill if allowed to be passed into law will have far reaching grave consequences on the security of the nation as it will cede harbour, jetty and terminal operations into private hands.
“We are therefore not surprised that the bill is being vigorously sponsored by certain unpatriotic individuals within the maritime sector, who are hell bent on appropriating our common wealth and cornering same into the lining of their individual pockets and that of their cronies.
“We would have thought that given our persistent cry and various notices pointing to the deplorable state of our various nation’s seaports, decrepit state of port access roads, collapsing quay aprons, and the general failure of infrastructures within our ports the focus of this 10th National Assembly would have been to find solutions to the myriad of problems bedevilling our ports, terminals, jetties and oil and gas platforms and even the need to dredge all the ports particularly Calabar, Warri, Onne etc for increased efficiency,” the Unions said.
The groups also expressed worry that the sponsors of this bill out rightly ignored demands to call the International Oil Companies (10Cs) operating in the nation’s economic zones to obey Nigerian maritime regulations, standards and laws.
“The Joint House Unions’, MWUN & SSACGOC use this medium to convey our believe to the Executive, National Assembly and the new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy that this is certainly not the right way to go as this ploy by these selfish individuals in the maritime sector will cause chaos and anarchy in the industry which has enjoyed sustained peace since the idea of projecting the harsh Bill was killed in 2018 will not be allowed to come to fruition.
“We note that the bill as being proposed, if passed into law will render the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) employees jobless and endanger the productivity of other port users. Even more sinister is the proposed idea of the Bill to provide wholly, employments that will not be pensionable as well as not transferable and without access to terminal benefits.
“This is the height of inconsideration by the proponents of the Bill to the right of workers to the necessary payment for services rendered by a worker, in accordance to known law, industrial relations practice, equity and good conscience,” the Unions decried.
They argued that, if passed into law, the Bill would effectively institutionalize the evil concept of casualization of workers and as well negate the provisions of the Pension reform Act 2004 as amended.
“We confirm our absolute vote of confidence on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Act as it currently relates to the Nigerian state and the well-being of the workers in the sector and we will vehemently resist all attempts to push this hellish bill further. We therefore demand for its withdrawal in its entirety,” they said.
