Hundreds of members of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria NWUN, in Port Harcourt on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest against the planned sack of 3,500 tally clerks and gang way security men by the federal government. The protest took place at the entrance of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Port Harcourt.
The protesting dockworkers were carrying placards with different inscriptions such as “We call on President Mohammadu Buhari to speak out on the allegation that his government directed NPA management to sack ports workers, “Tally clerks and on board security men are registered by law and have right to work in the ports, “Inimical government policy is killing jobs in the nation’s sea ports and several others.
Speaking during the protest, the Zonal Vice President East Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria MWUN, Dockworkers branch, Comrade Waite Harry said that the planned sack of 3,500 dockworkers would not do the Nigeria’s ports any good. He said that such plan if executed will create unemployment in the country.
Comrade Waite Harry alleged that, the inimical government’s policy(ies) concerning the ports has caused diversion of ships to ports in neighbouring countries leading to loss of revenue.
The Zonal Vice President East MWUN, Dockworkers Branch noted that ships diverted to ports outside Nigerian ports increase smuggling activities, and described the employment of cargo surveyor to replace tally clerk in the ports as political patronage and selfish.
According to him, low traffic has resulted in shipping companies, terminal operators to sack workers, and pleaded with the government to review the policies responsible for low traffic in the nation’s sea ports.
He stated categorically that the removing of tally clerks and onboard security gang way men from the ports is an economic sabotage and security risk in the nation’s ports.
His words, “If we do not speak and fold our hands one day foreigners will take over our seaports. Therefore we will continue to fight for our rights”.
Comrade Waite Harry lamented that the dockworkers have not received their salary and arrears in the past six (6) years and advised the government to have a rethink in its plan to sack 3,500 dock workers across the Nigerians sea ports, which he said would have an adverse effect to the nation’s economy. ###
