Maritime Workers Reject Port & Harbour Bill, Cite Insecurity, Job Loss

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), on Monday, unanimously opposed the reintroduction of the Port and Harbour bill by the National Assembly, citing job loss and insecurity.

Their position was made known at a joint press conference in Lagos, on Monday, addressed by the leadership of the two unions, Maritime Worker’s Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, and the maritime branch of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), led by the president of its maritime branch, Com. Akinola Bodunde.

They noted that the bill had been quashed by the 8th NASS following the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians, and strong opposition from MWUN and SSASCGOC, they condemned NASS for attempting “to sneak the anti-workers bill into legislation through the back door.

Explaining their opposition, the unions said, “The bill as being proposed, if passed into law, will render the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) employees jobless and endanger the productivity of other port users.

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“Even more sinister is the proposed idea of the bill to provide wholly employments that will not be pensionable as well as not transferable, and without access to terminal benefits.

“This is the height of inconsideration by the proponents of the bill to the rights of workers to the necessary payment for services rendered, in accordance to known law, industrial relations practice, equity, and good conscience.

“It is our belief that allowing this bill to be passed into law will effectively institutionalise the evil concept of casualisation of workers and as well negate the provisions of the Pension Reforms Act 2004 as amended.

“This is in direct contrast to the avowed promises of President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to ensure the provision of about five million jobs for Nigerians through the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.”

“We will not fold our hands or rest on our oars and allow a few unpatriotic Nigerians within the industry to rip off the nation’s commonwealth and render our sector unproductive via this infamous bill that will only create poverty, hopelessness, hunger and generate avid bitterness among the already impoverished workers and Nigerian citizenry.

“On this note, MWUN and SSASCGOC unequivocally reject the bill seeking to repeal the act that set up the NPA in its entirety.

“Consequently, we affirm our absolute vote of confidence on the Nigerian Ports Authority Act as it currently relates to the Nigerian state and the well-being of workers in the sector, and we will vehemently resist all attempts to push this hellish bill further. We therefore demand its withdrawal in its entirety.

According to them, the bill, “if allowed to be passed into law, will have far-reaching grave consequences on the security of the nation as it will cede harbour, jetty and terminal operations to private hands.

“We are therefore not surprised that the bill is being vigorously sponsored by certain unpatriotic individuals within the maritime sector, who are hell-bent on appropriating our commonwealth and cornering same into the lining of their individual pockets and that of their cronies.”

MWUN regretted that the 10th NASS was rather not bothered about the “persistent cry and various notices pointing to the deplorable state of our various seaports, decrepit state of port access roads, collapsing quay aprons, and the general failure of infrastructures within our ports.

“The focus of this 10th National Assembly would have been to find solutions to the myriads of problems bedeviling our ports, terminals, jetties, and oil and gas platforms, and even the need to dredge all the ports, particularly Calabar, Warri, and Onne, for increased efficiency.”

The unions condemned the current efforts to “clandestinely and recklessly misappropriate public infrastructure through unfriendly legislation for the benefit of individuals whose only interest is capital accumulation and not the general public good.

They further expressed concern that the sponsors of the bill outrightly ignored their demand to call the International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the economic zones, who have refused to obey extant maritime regulations, standards, and laws to order.

Instead, they “find it expedient to sit in the comfort of their hallowed chambers to push for laws that will be detrimental and inimical to the welfare and wellbeing of the working class, Nigerians, and our nation’s security and sovereignty.”

Vowing not to allow the bill to succeed, the unions warned the Executive, National Assembly, and the new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy that the “ploy by these selfish individuals in the maritime sector will cause chaos and anarchy in the industry, which had enjoyed sustained peace since the bill was killed in 2018.