Seaport workers want NPA, NIMASA to sanction jetty operators

For allegedly failing to engage only workers registered with it among other infractions, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) wants the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to sanction erring private jetty operators.

Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, president-general of the union, claimed that workers not registered are routinely engaged by private jetty owners and operators, an act, he said, that negates the laws of the country.

“The problem of private jetty owners within the Kirikiri, Ibafon and Ijegun axis is worrisome to us and that is why we are calling on NIMASA to take drastic actions to sanction those who have failed to comply with the laws of this country,” Adeyanju said.

He said the union has officially written to both agencies on the situation with a view to getting the erring jetty operators sanctioned.

Speaking to newsmen recently, the MWUN chief appealed to NIMASA and NPA to prioritise the issue of welfare of Nigerian workers, noting that when unregistered workers are engaged, they are susceptible to exploitation as the union would be unable to defend their rights.

Adeyanju said the union is impressed with the upswing in the level of activities at some eastern ports, especially that of Calabar. He attributed it to the recent dredging of the Calabar port.

“Due to the dredging of the Calabar Port channel, I can tell you that bigger vessels are now calling at the port and even at the Port Harcourt port there has been positive report that vessels are berthing constantly,” he said.