28 August 2015, Lagos—Workers of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, have raised alarm over increasing revenue leakages at the nation’s seaports.
The workers, have meanwhile urged the agency to recruit lower cadre workers to monitor revenue collection by terminal operators at the ports.
Presidents of the NPA branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Mr. Adeleke Sanni, said that the agency was losing billions in revenue because there was no proper monitoring of revenue collection by terminal operators at the ports due to a shortage of workforce on the part of the NPA.
Labour ministry cautions against unrest
Meantime, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, yesterday urged the management of NPA, to hasten the payment of the eight months salary arrears of dockworkers to avert industrial unrest in the nation’s Maritime Industry.
This may not be unconnected with tension generated in the nation’s ports over perceived slow pace of arrears payment to Tally Clerks and On-Board Security men who are members of the Dockworkers’ Branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, across the country.
Vanguard gathered that MWUN had earlier written to complain to the Ministry which brokered a truce between NPA and the union, thereby apprehending the planned to shut down the nation’s ports by labour, decrying the slow pace of payment.
Responding to the MWUN complaint, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh, reiterated the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, and the conclusions of the meeting held with the management of Nigeria Ports Authority and Federal Ministry of Transport over the non-payment of Dockworkers.
– Vanguard
