28 August 2015, Lagos – The Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity on Thursday called on the management of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to hasten the payment of salary arrears owed to stevedoring workers at the nation’s ports.
The ministry in a statement containing its advice to the NPA stated in Abuja that its call to NPA was in order to avert potential industrial actions in the country’s maritime sector.
The statement had the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Clement Illoh, responding to a letter that the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria wrote to him to notify him and also complain about the slow pace of payment of the eight month’s salary arrears of its members nationwide.
Illoh had in his advice to NPA, reiterated the contents of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the conclusions of the meeting held with its management and Federal Ministry of Transport over the non-payment of dockworkers.
He in this regards, re-emphasised on the need for the parties to adhere to the provisions of the agreements with a view to sustaining peaceful industrial relations, especially with in consideration of the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Illoh thus urged the NPA and the maritime workers union to maintain peace without distracting the existing harmony in the maritime sector which he said is very critical to the nation’s economy
– This Day
