Succur for ex-dockworkers as NPA pays severance benefits
To make good her promise at the assumption office, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, recently directed the payment of severance benefits to retired dockworkers. The beneficiaries were those disengaged in 2015 are under the aegis of ‘Tally Clerks’ and Onboard Security Men. The payment started in December 2019 […]
To make good her promise at the assumption office, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, recently directed the payment of severance benefits to retired dockworkers.
The beneficiaries were those disengaged in 2015 are under the aegis of ‘Tally Clerks’ and Onboard Security Men.
The payment started in December 2019 at the Authority’s Ultra-Modern Sports Centre, in Surulere, Lagos.
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and Stevedoring Companies have described the exercise conducted in Lagos area as the most
“Peaceful ” in the history of dock labour exercise in the country.
Commending the efforts of the current management team of NPA, members
of the union and contractors who were in attendance for over a week during the payment exercise in Lagos, explained that there was less
challenges in the process and payment was devoid of violence when compared to previous exercises.
Speaking at the end of the Lagos Area payment exercise, President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, said the exercise has vindicated the union from the alleged scam leveled against it.
Adeyanju said some of disengaged dockworkers apologized to the union leaders because of the communication gap adding that the approval was made possible by the Ministry of Transportation onward to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
He said the 400,000 payment for disengaged dockworkers emanated from the ministry down to NPA and was unconnected to any form of scam.
He said: “Remember in 2006, nobody can gain entrance into the NPA sport complex in Bode Thomas for similar exercise because there was
violence everywhere and the security personnel on ground were over one hundred.
” Now for this exercise I can tell you that no security personnel is here to protect the affected workers and there is no form of violence from anybody in respect to the payment and so I am vindicated.”
The Union boss further disclosed that the exercise will move to the eastern ports which is expected to commence first week of 2020.
Adeyanju, however, noted that one of the hiccups experienced during the exercise has to do with deceased workers, which necessitated their next of kin participation for payment to be made.
Adeyanju stated that executives of the union were on ground from December 30, 2019, when payment started up to January 8, 2020, when it
ended in Lagos.
In a similar remarks, the President of Nigerian Association of Stevedoring Companies, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola commended the MWUN for the key role played during the payment exercise.
Sunmola also debunked allegations of scam leveled against the union and NPA.