Maritime
No plans to sack dockworkers – NPA
By Kunle KALEJAYE
LAGOS-The Management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said that there are no plans by the organisation to sack 10,000 dockworkers.
Responding to an advertorial published on Monday by a group which called itself “Concerned Dockworkers” of the Mari1ime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) of Delta State titled ‘OPEN LETTER/PETITION AGAINST ALHAJI HABIBU ABDULLAHI, MANAGING DIRECTOR NIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY (NPA) ON HIS MOVE TO SACK OVER TEN THOUSAND NIGERIAN DOCKWORKERS (TALLY CLERKS AND CARGO SECURITY MEN) OPERATING IN NIGERIAN PORTS, MIDSTREAM, JETTIES AND TERMINALS’, NPA said the group dished out misleading information to the public.
“In the letter, which was full of half-truths and innuendos, the writers alleged amongst other things that the NPA Management has “threatened to sack 10,000 tally clerks and security” category of dockworkers”, to replace them, with less than 80 persons as cargo surveyors.
“Ordinarily, the Management would not have reacted to this purported letters by the uninformed writers but considering the flagrant misinformation and the misinterpretation of trust in the letter, calculated to paint the management and particularly the Managing Director in bad light, we deem it most appropriate to put the record straight for the benefit of the general public especially stakeholders,” NPA stated.
The NPA Management said it had never been the employer of dockworkers as prior to the 2005 port reform, the Authority ran a full service port system and was directly involved in cargo receipt from the vessel, its discharge and subsequent delivery to the consignee.
“Under the current concession regime, cargo operations became the responsibility of the terminal operators who are the master stevedores for their individual terminals, with authority to hire and fire dock labour employer for supply of dockworkers to their terminal and to pay them accordingly.
“With the port reform and following agitation by the Dockworkers Union, Government approved a severance package of N200,000 for each of the severed dockworkers not required by the new terminal operators on account of age or low productivity was paid by the Authority, while NIMASA ultimately took over the responsibility for the registration, welfare, training and regulation of dock labour practice in country.
“Cargo surveyors have for long been representatives of the NPA in port operations. As professionals responsible for measuring the tonnage particularly of dry liquid bulk cargoes, they were first engaged in 1999 and renewed in 2006 at the take-off of the current concession.
“Cargo surveyors are to provide the Authority with an independent source of information for the verification of tonnage discharged by vessels calling at the ports for voyage reconciliation with terminal operators.
“Last December, the NPA in its desire to check fraudulent practices in the payment to labour contractors initiated a verification exercise for all such contractors with a view to authenticate all genuine and ambiguous claims from such contractors.
“It should be pointed out here that in the last nine years, the Authority had been groaning under the weight of the financial burden of payment of tally clerks/on board security men even when it does not deliver any value to NPA under the current dispensation as a landlord and regulator,” the Port Authority explained even as it stated that the overriding desire for a peaceful industrial relations atmosphere that will ensure and secure government’s objectives for reform in the maritime sector and improve efficiency of port services shall always remain the its guiding the approach.
“The contractual relationship entered into by Nigerian Ports Authority as a responsible corporate organization is guided by established Government regulations.
“The publication in This Day of Monday 22nd December 2014, captioned “Call To Regularize Contractual Obligations”, which the group finds offensive in summary requires all employers of tally clerks and onboard security men with existing and going contractual relationship with the Authority to come forward for verification as a basis for ensuring payment.
“Are they saying their contracts should not be verified while the Authority continues to pay billions under questionable circumstances?
“The on-going verification exercise of labour contractors by Management is meant to ensure that the Authority only pays to contractors with the valid contracts and to curb fraudulent practices in the process.
“As a responsible organization, NPA Management wishes to re-affirm that no fully registered labour contractor would be surcharged in this exercise,” the organisation added.
Maritime
NIMASA Makes Dockworkers Registration Compulsory
The management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has advised International Oil Companies, terminal and jetty operators, and all other companies involved in stevedoring in the country to refrain from engaging unregistered dockworkers.
The information was contained in a statement made available to Biztellers by the Head, Public Relations, NIMASA, Osagie Edward.
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According to the statement, all stakeholders, including dock labour employers and stevedoring companies, are encouraged to apply for new operating licenses or renew expired ones within a 30-day moratorium period.
“This requirement,” it added, “is stipulated by the NIMASA Act of 2007 and outlined in the NIMASA Stevedoring Regulations of 2014, which mandates strict compliance from all maritime operators.”
Osagie cited the Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola as laying emphasis on the need for stakeholders to comply with extant laws and regulations.
Dr Mobereola said, “No terminal or company shall continue to engage the services of unregistered dockworkers for cargo handling at their work locations.
“This move is part of our broader effort to ensure safe and regulated operations within Nigeria’s maritime industry. Compliance with these regulations will enhance our ability to maintain an up-to-date database of dockworkers operating in the country. It also improves our planning processes, as we are committed to developing their capacity to meet globally accepted standards for dockworkers in Nigeria. We intend to enforce full compliance after the moratorium period.”
It was gathered that the NIMASA Act, 2007, Part IX, Section 27, addressed the registration of Dockworkers with focus on Maritime Labour.
“It ensures the Registration, Regulation, and control of Maritime Labour, including dockworkers. The Act assigns the Agency the responsibility of maintaining standards in accordance with international best practices,” Osagie added.
Maritime
Maritime Diplomacy: Nigeria Seeks Election Into IMO Council
Nigeria has expressed a strong desire to seek election into Category “C” of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council.
The Honorable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, made the disclosure at the 2024 World Maritime Day parallel event in Barcelona, Spain.
Oyetola noted that Nigeria has put in place the basic needs for the development of her maritime industry in line with recognized global best practices.
In his words, “our active participation in upholding key conventions, such as the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, reflects our dedication to ensuring the safety of international shipping.
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There have been no incidents of piracy in the last three years, as confirmed by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). By deploying resources to provide maritime security assets, Nigeria has solidified its role as a key guardian of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Nigeria remains a valuable source of manpower for the industry. I therefore urge our partners to explore this potential and assist where possible in the best interest of all. Our Maritime Academy has adequate resources and facilities to support this development.
“I am pleased to announce Nigeria’s resolve to seek a Category “C” membership on the Council.
On his part, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, assured that no stone will be left unturned to ensure success in the quest for IMO Category C membership at the next elections.
According to him, “We at NIMASA have met with the IMO technical team and have commenced work on all identified grey areas so that Nigeria can address the gaps identified during the last audit by the IMO.
”We have also commenced the process of effective communication with other member states using the IMO GSIS platform, among others. While we at NIMASA focus on the technical aspects of the preparations, our supervising Ministry will provide the political will to guide Nigeria back to the Council at the IMO.”
Oyetola, who held engagement sessions with the IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez and other diplomats, was accompanied on the working tour by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola; the Director General of the NIMASA; the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; the Managing Director of NIWA, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji; and the Director of Maritime Safety and Security Services, Mr. Babatunde Bombata.
This year’s parallel event with the theme: Navigating the Future: Safety First, brought together international maritime leaders and experts to discuss future challenges and opportunities, with the aim of ensuring that safety is prioritized in the day-to-day operations of the global maritime sector.
Maritime
Why PPP Is Necessity For Nigeria’s Maritime Infrastructural Dev’t – Mobereola
The adoption of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model is essential for the infrastructural development of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
This is the view of the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola.
The DG, shared his views while hosting the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh.
He emphasized the importance of the Commission’s increased involvement in attracting private investors to develop infrastructural capacity in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
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Dr. Mobereola said, “We appreciate the Management of the ICRC for being responsive. However, you know that the maritime sector is capital intensive and government funds cannot solely put in place the required infrastructure. We need the ICRC to develop PPP based business models that will be attractive to the private sector both from within and outside the country.
“There is the need to streamline processes by the use of technology, as we will continue to count on the support of ICRC to help drive the Agency’s PPP projects for effective and efficient service delivery to our stakeholders”.
Lending support to Dr. Mobereola’s views, Dr. Ewalefoh, underscored the significance of the maritime sector to Nigeria’s economy.
He noted that the PPP model would facilitate increased funding and expertise from the private sector, thereby accelerating the growth and development of the Nigerian maritime sector. Additionally, he stated that the ICRC is prepared to engage with the Agency on its projects and ensure timely execution.
“There is no time to waste; our country needs lots of funding for infrastructure and we need to create an enabling environment for activities to thrive. First, is service delivery, not revenue generation, and people will be willing to pay if they get the right services”, the ICRC boss noted.
The PPP model has proven to be the most viable approach worldwide for driving government policies that promote development and economic growth.
Biztellers reports that as a regulatory agency and Nigeria’s Maritime Administrator, the NIMASA has consistently embraced collaboration and partnership through the PPP initiative to ensure the growth and development of the maritime sector.