Kunle Kalejaye 25 January 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos – Chairman of the National Joint Industrial Council, NJIC, Mr. Gambo Ahmed, has stressed the need for understanding between workers and employers in the maritime industry.
Ahmed, who is also the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, said the need for understanding between the workers and the employers was necessary, “most especially during this period of economic recession where everyone needs to be accommodating”.
He stated this during the signing of the NJIC agreement for dockworkers between the terminal operators and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, at the NIMASA headquarters in Lagos.
Also speaking at the event, the chairperson of Seaport Terminals Operators Association of Nigeria, STOAN, Princess Vicky Haastrup, commended NIMASA for midwifing the processes that ensured that peace and harmony existed amongst stakeholders in the ports.
In her words, “The atmosphere in and around the ports has made it so conducive for everyone to carry out his or her business and this is because NIMASA has always brought the issues of welfare of dockworkers to the front burner”.
In the same vein, the President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Comrade Anthony Nted, commended NIMASA for the new harmonious working relationship between terminal operators and workers in the ports, stating that MWUN was willing to abide by the signed agreement.
The event was concluded with the presentation of a brand new Toyota Hiace bus to MWUN by NIMASA to enhance inspections of terminals by the union. While handing over the bus to the union, Ahmed urged the leadership to impress on its members to be law abiding and assured them of government’s support to ensure fairness in the industry.
The newly-signed agreement which is for a period of two years is intended to ensure industrial peace in the industry as it encompasses fair treatment of dockworkers, by ensuring that every employee gets an employment letter and a package as terminal benefits when their contract expires which has not been the case in recent past with some operators.