MARITIME: COLLAPSE IMMINENT AS OVER 3,000 SACKED AS 20 MARITIME COYS SHUT DOWN

NIGERIA'S TRANSPORT MINISTER

In the face of severe economic recession, maritime workers under the aegis of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN have made an SOS call to President Muhammadu Buhari to save the sector from imminent collapse instigated by unfavourable government policies over the last one year.

No fewer than 20 shipping companies have shut down operations and over 3, 000 workers retrenched since the inception of the current administration.

The President-General, Mr. Anthony Emmanuel Nted of the union yesterday, made this disclosure while addressing newsmen.

Nted among many other issues, lamented that over 2000 workers risk retrenchment if nothing is done to salvage the situation.

According to him, the affected shipping companies were verifiable in the ports and more shipping companies are on the verge of  folding up and were only doing skeletal services at the moment.

He said: "Today, we lament the action of the management of Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, in also planning to sack a section of the Dockworkers, especially the Tally Clerks and Onboard Security men in spite of their importance and relevance in the Port operations, as it affects the reoccurring scourge of tonnage under declaration and its negative impact on the nation’s economy.

“The leakage of revenue through under declaration of tonnage should be seriously tackled. In this regard, we reiterate that Tally Clerks and Onboard Security men should be allowed to continue the critical job of uncovering and discouraging under tonnage which is often done with the unholy collaboration of NPA, shipping companies, agents and terminal operators. The Tally Clerks and onboard security men are capable of preventing these economic crimes as they were doing through their independent and physical tallying process.

“Over 2000 workers(Tally clerks and onboard security men) are involved. Their reinstatement will go a long way in reducing the number of unemployed Nigerians, and also reducing the misery of their families.”

The union demanded among others that “All access roads to the ports as a matter of urgency, should be expanded and rehabilitated to handle cargo traffic in the ports. The traditional rail operations in our seaports should be restored to reduce the pressure on our highways and daily fatal accidents and deaths from containers.

"Waterways should be developed for delivery of laden containers and heavy equipment through our coastal waters into the hinterland. The tank-farms which are now dangerously located close to the ports, residential areas and along the expressways  and access roads close to the ports should be relocated far away from the seaports to stave-off the perennial gridlocks on the roads.

“The volume of vehicles imported into Nigeria through Nigerian ports has collapsed to an all-time low, with consequent loss of thousands of jobs in the maritime sector. The new duty regime for vehicles introduced since 2004 and application of the new rate of exchange rate for duty calculations have made the importation of cars and trucks into Nigeria far too expensive.

"In the last two years, the number of vehicles arriving Nigeria has shrunk by almost two thirds, while the volume of cars smuggled through the Cotonou Border has continued to rise unabated. It is therefore necessary that the Federal Government reviews its stance on the Automative policy so as not to inflict any more suffering on the workers who are already having a hard time with price increases every day.

“The Federal Government should look at making the importation of cars and trucks more competitive to enable the economy to grow. A significant reduction in the duties applicable on cars and trucks will go a long way in alleviating the challenges of our people and spur economic activities.

“Government should as a matter of urgency adopt policies towards resuscitating the export of agricultural produces and mineral resources that were hitherto the main stay of the Nigerian economy before the discovery of oil. This will no doubt create jobs in our seaports and increase revenue for the government.”


CULLED FROM THE SHEET