The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has credited the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for playing a pivotal role in resolving a long-standing challenge that had plagued the Authority’s workforce for over a decade.
Dantsoho, speaking at a recent engagement with the leadership of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), acknowledged that Oyetola’s approval of the NPA’s strategic proposal paved the way for the successful clearance of promotion backlogs that had previously fueled low staff morale and industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed,” Dantsoho said. “This enabled us to resolve all outstanding cases of employee stagnation through a transparent and comprehensive promotion exercise, while instituting firm timelines to prevent a recurrence of such anomalies.”
The reform, described as long overdue by labour stakeholders, drew high praise from both MWUN and SSASCGOC, who jointly commended the Dantsoho-led management team for restoring fairness, equity, and motivation within the Authority’s workforce.
Comrade Bodunde, President of SSASCGOC, speaking on behalf of the joint labour unions, remarked: “In addition to the clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, the provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Conditions of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Dantsoho, in his remarks, reiterated that under his leadership, human capital development remains a cornerstone of institutional reform and performance at the NPA.
He emphasised that unlocking employee potential and fostering morale are critical to the Authority’s larger goals around port competitiveness and service excellence.
“Talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the bold and transformative goals we have set for ourselves,” he said. “The only way we can meet — and exceed — stakeholder expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human capital while continuously boosting their morale.”
According to a statement by Ikechukwu Onyemekara, General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of NPA, Dantsoho also underscored the symbiotic relationship between infrastructure renewal and workforce wellbeing.
“Our ongoing drive to modernise port infrastructure and equipment will go hand in hand with continuous investment in staff welfare,” he noted.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.