By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has called on the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) leaders to shelve the planned shutdown of operations at all ports and oil terminals in the country.
Business Post had earlier reported that the union had scheduled to start the action from March 1.
Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, the agency’s Managing Director, in a statement signed by Mr Ibrahim Nasiru, General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, NPA made the appeal at a peace meeting in Lagos.
The NPA boss appealed to the union leaders not to deviate from the path of peace and industrial harmony the union had cultivated over the years.
Mr Bello-Koko admonished that dialogue remained a veritable tool to address every agitation, be it at the workplace or in the larger society.
“MWUN, the umbrella body of port workers in the country, had in February threatened to shut port operations nationwide.
“This was over alleged refusal of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to allow the stevedoring companies and their workers, who are members of the union, access their platforms, thus denying them wage-earning opportunities as provided by law.
“At the meeting held at the Authority’s head office, the NPA helmsman reminded the union leaders that shutting down port operations generates several negative ripple effects far beyond the port industry,” the NPA boss said.
He pointed out that it was very important the ports are kept open for business 24 hours daily, a cardinal mandate of a port administration.
“I expect your union as a critical stakeholder would continue to partner with us to maintain and sustain this mandate,” he said.
Mr Bello-koko disclosed that the NPA, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMoT), was already making efforts to ensure that IOCs allowed appointed stevedores and dockworkers access to their platforms as stipulated by law.
On his part, President General of MWUN, Mr Adewale Adeyanju, while assuring the meeting of the union’s consideration to defer the planned strike, expressed the union’s satisfaction with the intervention by the Koko-led management.
According to him, “we commend the NPA as our landlord and parent employer, we are happy with the MD’s intervention and confidence-building words.
“We will consider shelving the planned strike pending the outcome of further meetings.
“We are doing this as a show of respect to your office and in the interest of peace and industrial harmony in our maritime industry.”
Modupe Gbadeyanka