The President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has applauded the Federal Government’s 2006 port concession exercise, describing it as a transformative initiative that has significantly enhanced services at the nation’s seaports and improved the welfare of dockworkers.
Speaking during the 2024 Dockworkers Day celebration, organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Lagos on Wednesday, Adeyanju highlighted the benefits of the concession, including improved port security, enhanced lighting of terminals, and better working conditions for dockworkers. The event was themed “Safety First, Efficiency Always.”
“Port concession has brought in improved security, lighting of the terminals. The ports are now better secured for cargo and safe for port workers. It has also led to better welfare and remuneration of dockworkers,” Adeyanju stated.
He commended the efforts of terminal operators under the aegis of the Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), led by Princess Vicky Haastrup, for prioritising the development of the ports and the welfare of dockworkers.
Princess Vicky Haastrup, Chairman of STOAN, praised dockworkers as the “unsung heroes” of Nigeria’s maritime sector. She reiterated that the Federal Government’s port concession program had been a “game-changer,” resulting in safer working conditions, improved remuneration, and enhanced productivity.
“These positive impacts have significantly improved the livelihoods of dockworkers, enabling them to better support their families and communities,” Haastrup said.
She also disclosed that STOAN, in collaboration with MWUN and NIMASA, has continually worked to enhance dockworkers’ welfare through regular signing of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
She said a new CBA has been signed and is set to be implemented by terminal operators, ensuring fair treatment, the payment of living wages, and retirement benefits for dockworkers.
Haastrup affirmed the commitment of terminal operators to pay dockworkers their 18 months arrears, emphasising the importance of good working conditions, pensions, and insurance schemes.
“Dockworkers deserve their wages, good working conditions, pension, and insurance schemes,” Princess Haastrup declared, urging dockworkers to maintain peace and cooperation at the ports.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, represented by the General Manager of Operations, Charles Okaga, commended dockworkers for their contributions to the maritime sector. In his presentation titled ‘Safe, Effective Cargo Handling Operations’, Dantsoho called on other government agencies to support capacity-building initiatives for dockworkers to improve terminal operations.
A significant highlight of the event was the launch of a booklet titled “Reviewed Minimum Standard for Dock Labour Industry”.
Jibril Abba, NIMASA’s Executive Director for Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, described the document as a landmark achievement.
“This document codifies the implementation of approved conditions of service and collective bargaining agreements on minimum standards. It demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that Nigerian dockworkers are treated fairly by terminal operators and stevedoring companies,” he said.
