…As Jamoh Hosts Maiden ‘Day Of The Dockworker’ Event, after NIMASA, MWUN deliberation over Ex-NNSL Seafarers’ Benefits
BY GODWIN OBI
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has hosted the maiden edition of the ‘Day of the Dockworker’ in Lagos, with the Director General, Bashir Jamoh charging all employers of labor to enroll every dockworker on contributory pension schemes.
“As we celebrate today, it is important to put in perspective the plight of dockworkers who spend the greater part of their working life at the ports, with little or nothing to show for it”, Dr. Jamoh said, stressing that: “As employers of labour, you must endeavour to put in place a Contributory Pension Scheme for dockworkers and ensure prompt remittances of both Employers and Employees contributions at the end of each month”.
*R-L: Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh; Port Manager, Apapa Port, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Charles Okaga; Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services NIMASA, Engr. Victor Ochei and the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju; during the 2023 Day of the Dockworker Celebration in Lagos.
*Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh presenting a souvenir to Former Board Chairman, NIMASA, Dr. Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan during the 2023 Day of the Dockworker Celebration in Lagos.
Delivering his welcome address at the event, the NIMASA Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, charged employers of labor to ensure all dockworkers are enrolled in contributory pension schemes, even as he emphasized the need for operators of Oil and Gas Terminals to allow only approved stevedores aboard their installations, to ensure compliance with relevant international guidelines and conventions.
Speaking on compliance with stevedore inspections, he stated further: “This occasion presents me with an opportunity to express the need for operators in the private jetties and Oil & Gas Terminals to grant operational access to the Stevedoring Contractors appointed by the Honorable Minister of Transport, to carry out stevedoring activities in assigned operational areas”.
On his part, the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), a Prince of Ibadan, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, in his address, thanked the NIMASA Management for organizing the event to celebrate Nigerian dockworkers in recognition of the all-important role they play.
In attendance at the event were representatives from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity; the Nigerian Ports Authority; the Seaport Terminal Operators Association and the National Association of Stevedoring Operators (NASA). Internationally, July 7th is marked as ‘The Global Day of Action’ and is organized by the International Dockworkers’ Council (IDC) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). It aims to raise awareness.
In the meantime, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, perhaps prompted by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has begun deliberation with the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN in a bid to resolve the lingering issue of terminal benefits of Seafarers whose appointments were terminated due to the liquidation of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line, NNSL.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, and the Vice President of the Nigerian Labour Congress who is also the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade (Dr.) Adewale Adeyanju, have already jointly announced an agreement for physical verification of the affected seafarers/next of kin as the case may apply; the nature of the appointment of all affected seafarers, and the exact amount due each beneficiary.
The NIMASA DG also assured the Union that their position will be communicated to the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, to ensure the Government takes all necessary actions to bring to a conclusion, the issue of NNSL.
*Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh
“The issue of industrial harmony in the maritime sector is of uttermost interest to our administration at NIMASA. We have been at this for a while. NIMASA had offered 100 million naira as a settlement, which the Union declined.
“We have also discovered that some of those demanding settlement did not even have any employment letter. We will follow the lead from our supervising Ministry and ensure the physical verification exercise is brought to a logical conclusion. Our Honourable Minister will be duly updated by the Agency. I look forward to closing this issue in months to come”, the DG said.
On his part, the President General, the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Adeyanju restated the commitment of the Union to the peaceful resolution of disputes; to ensure the rights and privileges of workers are well protected, without disrupting productivity in the Maritime Sector.
He commended the Jamoh-led Management at NIMASA, urging others to follow suit.
“I will like to commend NIMASA under Dr Jamoh, for the unflinching commitment to industrial harmony. He is always a phone call away to resolve any issue. Yes, NIMASA offered 100 million naira to offset the terminal benefits.
“However, if others like the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Shippers Council, and the rest also add funds, there will be enough to go round the expected beneficiaries. As we did for dockworkers when a flat rate of two hundred thousand was paid during port concession; that is what we want, putting into consideration the realities on ground now”, Comrade Adeyanju further said.
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