The two labour unions in the Nigerian maritime industry, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (Maritime Branch) (SSASCGOC) rejected the Ports and Harbour Bill currently being deliberated upon on the floors of the National Assembly on Monday.

The bill seeks to repeal the Act that set up the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

The labour unions argued that the Ports and Harbour Bill, as proposed if passed into law, will render the NPA employees jobless and endanger the productivity of other port users.

At a joint press conference held in Apapa, Lagos, on Monday, the two unions, represented by Comrade Adewale Adeyanju for MWUN and his NPA counterpart, Comrade Akinola Bodunde, alleged an attempt to sneak the bill into legislation through the back door.

According to the workers, the bill, which was earlier initiated by an honourable member of the 8^th National Assembly, was squashed from becoming law through the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians, stakeholders, and the efforts of the two in-house unions, who mutually and strongly affirmed their opposition to the proposed hellish bill.

“We wish to note that this bill if allowed to be passed into law, will have far-reaching grave consequences for the security of the nation as it will cede harbor, jetty, and terminal operations into 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 it into the lining of their individual pockets and that of their cronies.

“We would have thought that given our persistent cry and various notices pointing to the deplorable state of our various nation’s seaports, decrepit state of port access roads, collapsing quay aprons, and the general failure of infrastructures within our ports, the focus of this 10^th National Assembly would have been to find solutions to the myriad of problems bedeviling our ports, terminals, Jetties and Oil and Gas platforms and even the need to dredge all the ports particularly Calabar, Warri, Onne etc for increased efficiency; and not to clandestinely and recklessly seek to misappropriate public infrastructure through unfriendly legislation for the benefit of individuals whose only interest is capital accumulation and not the general public good of all.

“We are even further surprised that the sponsors of this bill outrightly ignored our demand to call the International Oil Companies (IOCS) operating in our sovereign territorial economic zones, who have snobbishly refused to obey our extant maritime regulations, standards, and laws to order but 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.

“The Joint House Unions, MWUN and SSACGOC use this medium to convey our belief to the Executive, National Assembly and the new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy that this is certainly not the right way to go, as this ploy by these selfish individuals in the maritime sector will cause chaos and anarchy in the industry, which has enjoyed sustained peace since the idea of projecting the harsh Bill was killed in 2018, will not be allowed to come to fruition,” the maritime workers stated.

Speaking further, the workers said that a copy of the bill has revealed that it provides wholly employment that will not be pensionable, not transferable, and without access to terminal benefits.

“This is the height of inconsideration by the proponents of the Bill to the right

Of workers to the necessary payment for services rendered by a worker, in accordance with known law, industrial relations practise, equity, and good conscience.

“It is our belief that allowing this bill to be passed into law will effectively institutionalise the evil concept of casualization of workers and negate the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2004 as amended. This is in direct contrast to the avowed promises of Mr President-Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to ensure the provision of about 5 million jobs for Nigerians through the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

“Having said this, We, the two in-house unions in the maritime sector—MWUN and SSASCGOC—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 avid bitterness amongst the already impoverished workers and Nigerian citizens.

“Consequently, we confirm our absolute vote of confidence in the Nigerian Ports Authority Act as it currently relates to the Nigerian state and the well-being of the workers in the sector, and we will vehemently resist all attempts to push this hellish bill further,” the workers vowed. (Nigerian Tribune)

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