Workers’ union shuts ports nationwide over repel of NPA act

The Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and Maritime branch of Senior Staff Association of Communication, Transportation and Corporation on Tuesday shut all ports within the country indefinitely on Tuesday over the repeal of NPA act 1955.

However, it was gathered that about two billion naira was lost due to the shut down of all ports formations nationwide.

Addressing newsmen, President General of Maritime workers, Adewale Adeyanju and his counterpart, Comrade Benson Adegbeyeni said there is impending threat to the survival of the nation’s ports and the job security of their members by the detestable bill pending at the national Assembly for the repeal of the Nigerian Ports Authority Act, cap 126 LFN 2004, and establish the Nigeria ports.

The duo lamented that since the presentation of the bill to the House of Representatives, none of the stakeholders including the two unions in the Maritime sector which the bill stand to affect gravely were invited or notified to speak on behalf of their members.

They went further to say that the bill is summarily seeks to repeal the Act of 1955 as amendment which set up NPA and replaces it with the aforementioned bill which by all intent and purpose, has grave consequences to the security of the nation among others.

Comrade Adewale said the most disturbing aspect of the bill is that it would throw more than half members and other workers into the already saturated labour market, saying this is contrary to the promise of the present government.

According to unions, it is important to bring to your notice that the bill portends grave consequences for the security of this country as it cedes harbour, jetty and terminal operations into private hands. This is especially serious in view of the dangerous influx of illegal arms and ammunition into the country, which we all are seeing the consequences as evidenced in insurgency, kidnapping, militancy and other violent crime.

The unions insisted that there is nowhere in the world where harbour operations is handed to private operators, saying it is highly sensitive and exclusive preserve of government besides being a high foreign exchange earner.

Maritime workers therefore appealed to the National Assembly to throw away the bill insisted that it seeks to do more harm to the majority and favour the few individuals promoting it.

“We are determined to ensure that Nigeria and Nigerians are not short changed by this obnoxious bill. We appeal to National Assembly to listen to the voice of reason and obey the wish of the people”, he said.