Port workers kick against Nigeria’s membership of IAPH

Port workers who are members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have kicked against the hosting of the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) Conference in Nigeria, stating that the event could raise agitation for the passage of the Ports and Harbours Bill which is still pending on the floors of the National Assembly.

It would be recalled that the MWUN has consistently kicked against the passage of the Ports and Harbours Bill 2015 which is currently pending before the House of Representatives, saying it will lead to massive job loss for workers of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune exclusively, a dockworker Mathias Samson wondered why the NPA hosted the IAPH conference, when it knows that the core essence of the association, the Ports and Harbors regulation will lead to massive sack in the maritime industry.

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According to Samson, “Our association has written a protest letter to the National Assembly long ago over the passage of the Ports and Harbours Bill. We have stated our concerns, and I believe the lawmakers have reasonable put an hold to its passage. I guess that is why we have not been hearing of the Bill again. Or how can we be talking of the passage of a Bill that will cede labour operations into private hands.

“I think the hosting of the IAPH Conference is ill-timed. I just hope it does not elicit another urge for the passage of the Ports and Harbours Bill.”

Also speaking to the Nigerian Tribune, another member of the MWUN Alfonsos Udeh who claimed to have worked in harbor operations wondered why the NPA joined the IAPH when the country might not repeal the NPA Act of 1955.

“We are opposed to the repeal of the NPA Act 1955 by the Ports and Harbours Bill. The sponsors of the Bill want to hijack harbor operations from government, and this has security implications. I cannot comprehend why the NPA even joined the IAPH, not to talk of hosting the associations’ regional conference,” Alfonsos Udeh stated.

It would be recalled that the NPA recently hosted the IAPH 2018 conference with the theme ‘African ports and hinterland connections’.