Maritime
Nigerian dockworkers Condemn APMT For Poor Remuneration
Nigerian dockworkers operating at the nation seaports under the aegis of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have passed a verdict on the biggest terminal operator in Nigeria; AP Moller Terminal (APMT) saying that the concessionaire has not lived up to expectation in terms of remuneration and other welfare packages for dockworkers working for them.
Nigerian dockworkers operating at the nation seaports under the aegis of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have passed a verdict on the biggest terminal operator in Nigeria; AP Moller Terminal (APMT) saying that the concessionaire has not lived up to expectation in terms of remuneration and other welfare packages for dockworkers working for them.
President of the dockworkers branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju gave this verdict in Lagos on Tuesday.
Adeyanju hinged the bad treatment of the union by APMT on the frequent changes in the management of the terminal.
He said that even though the terminal has done well in terms of safety and security within the terminal, they have failed to take proper care of their workers who according to him are the ones responsible for the success of the terminal.
“In terms of welfares they are very poor and I must say this, it will take you two weeks before you will get anything from APMT management, this is because they change their management every two years”
The union leader however commended the indigenous terminal operators at the port and even charged Nigerians and maritime stakeholders to give totality of their support to indigenous terminal operators because their success and growth will affect Nigerians better than how it is under the multinationals.
“We Nigerians must support the indigenous terminal operators and that is what we are doing, the union is supporting them because if they grow the union and the workers under them will also grow”
He appealed to the management of the APMT to improve upon the welfare of its dockworkers saying that without the dockworkers the terminal would not have recorded its present business gains.
“I want to use this medium to appeal to them that they should have the love of the workers in their heart, it is very important, they are the engine room of the job, they are part of the stakeholders, they are the ones growing the wealth for them so they should have the love of the workers in their heart”
Adeyanju also lamented that the recent changes in the executive directors of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has affected the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) money that is supposed to be paid to the dockworkers.
According told our correspondent that the money was deducted from dockworker’s salary in 2002 under the stevedoring contractors.
Adeyanju said that contrary to widely held opinions, the NSITF money is not with the union but ithat is is still hanging in the files of NIMASA, “their money is not with the union because that is the thinking of the average dockworkers, we are not holding their money, the money is still with NIMASA hanging in their files, but I am assuring you that before the end of the month it will be paid, this is assurance from NIMASA”
“The money does not cover all dockworkers in the port, it is only for those that their employer deducted from them, but because of widespread news, the anxiety is there and everybody is putting hope on the money, I as a president I worked with Kebbi motors back then and my money is N9,000 to be paid by NIMASA but up till now it has not been paid” he explained
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola has deposited three Instruments of Accession to IMO Conventions signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the global body.
He did so on Tuesday, at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which acts as the repository for these conventions.
This move, coming a few weeks after Nigeria declared its intention to contest election for a seat on the IMO Council, is expected to enhance Nigeria’s maritime governance and align its practices with international standards, promoting maritime safety, security, and environmental protection.
Shortly after the presentation ceremonies, Oyetola informed the IMO Secretary General, Arsenio Dominguez, of the President’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria aligns with international maritime standards regarding maritime safety, security, and sustainable marine practices.
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He also called on the IMO to extend technical support to Nigeria.
In his words, “These instruments, duly acceded by His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, signify Nigeria’s continued commitment to aligning with international maritime standards, ensuring maritime safety and security, and promoting sustainable marine practices.
“We hereby request tailored technical cooperation under the Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) to enhance Nigeria’s compliance with IMO conventions and improve our maritime governance and implementation of the instruments we submitted today.”
On his part, Dominguez, acknowledged with appreciation the formal deposition of the Instruments of Accession, stating that it underscores Nigeria’s steadfast commitment to aligning with global maritime standards.
“I congratulate Nigeria for its exceptional efforts in acceding to these six critical IMO instruments. I encourage continued momentum by securing presidential assent to additional key conventions. We at the IMO remains fully committed to supporting Nigeria through technical cooperation and capacity-building initiatives to ensure the successful implementation of these instruments,” he stated.
The instruments Oyetola handed over to Dominguez include the instrument of accession to the 2005 Protocol to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf (SUA Protocol 2005), the instrument of accession to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), and the instrument of accession to the Protocol Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Pollution by Substances Other Than Oil (Intervention Protocol 1973).
It was gathered that three other Instruments of Accession signed by President Tinubu are undergoing further steps to complete the processes for their deposit.
Funds accrued under the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) are intact and currently held with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the Single Treasury Account (TSA).
This assertion was made by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday.
The clarification became necessary to address “a misleading publication alleging that funds have disappeared from the CVFF account”.
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The statement reads, in part, “The report of a missing money is both misleading and false.
“For the record, the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, securely held in the NIMASA account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), remains intact. There has been no disappearance of funds, and no illegal transactions, as the article suggests. This misinformation is a figment of the authors imagination, aimed at undermining NIMASA’s integrity, and mislead the public about the Agency’s operations.
“The Management of NIMASA will ensure that the CVFF is utilised in line with its statutory purpose. NIMASA Director General, Dr Mobereola has assured stakeholders of the safety of funds under the CVFF.”
The statement cited the DG thus, “Let us be clear that the CVFF account at the Central Bank of Nigeria is safe, intact, and secure. We at NIMASA will continue to manage it with the utmost responsibility, and there are no irregularities or illegal activities surrounding the funds. I urge the public to disregard this false narrative and to continue trusting the Agency’s ability to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s maritime sector”.
It was gathered that the CVFF is a fund established under section 42 of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 to promote the development of indigenous ship acquisition capacity and to provide credit facilities to local maritime operators.
The NIMASA, assured of its commitment “to transparency, accountability, and the advancement of Nigeria’s maritime sector.”
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo appears eager to deliver the dividends of democracy to his constituents.
This is discernible from the frenzy of activities being witnessed in his first few days on the job, including dissolution of boards, constitution of investigative panels, flagging off of infrastructure projects, among others.
In the bid to address the perennial road traffic congestion negatively impacting economic and social activities in Benin City, the state capital, Gov Okpebholo on Wednesday flagged off the construction of a flyover bridge.
Biztellers reports that the flyover bridge around the popular Ramat Park in the city centre is the first of such in the history of Edo State.
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The Edo State Government made the disclosure in its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Wednesday.
It wrote, “Traffic decongestion: Gov Okpebholo flags off first flyover in Edo.
“Edo State Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo has flagged off the construction of a flyover bridge at Ramat Park, Benin City, the State Capital, as part of immediate efforts to reduce traffic congestion in the city.”
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