Dockworkers raise alarm over low operating standards of stevedoring firms

The Dockworkers branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has raised an alarm accusing some stevedoring companies operating in the nation’s seaport of low safety standards.

According to the dockworkers, the low operating standards have become alarming such that some of these stevedoring companies operate without standby ambulances to handle emergency situations at the port.

Adewale Adeyanju, President of the Dockworkers branch of MWUN, who revealed this to newsmen, said that the labour union will soon be picketing some stevedoring firms operating without up to date safety equipment inside the seaports.

“Some stevedoring companies under the terminal operators, but I will not like to mention their names, have ambulances that are not up to standard. The stevedoring contractors are the ones responsible for the welfare of the workers under them,” he said.

He added that the union has also noticed that some of the ambulances are sub-standard and will be going about to inspect these safety equipment. “After going round, we will then make public the names of the stevedoring companies that operate sub-standard safety equipment at the seaport.”

In another development as regards the implementation of payment to tally clerks recently agreed with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), he confirmed that some of their members are yet to get paid.

“The tally clerks’ salaries have not been paid. We had earlier issued 14-day ultimatum which has elapsed, but due to the promise of the NPA management and the involvement of the Ministry of Transport in the case, that was why the union did not embark on strike again.

Continuing: he said “There was a communiqué which we signed with the parties involved on the payment, and that is almost a month ago, yet the payment has not started. We are still keeping our arms crossed and will react when our patience elapses.”

UZOAMAKA ANAGOR-Ewuzie