- Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Jibril Abba (left), former President, Dockworkers Union, Comrade Uzor Ije Ukaumunna, President-General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, and Chairperson, Seaport Terminal Operators of Nigeria, Princess Vicky Haastrup, during the 2024 Day of the Dockworker celebration in Lagos…Wednesday
By Anthony Nwachukwu
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched a booklet, the Reviewed Minimum Standard for Dock Labour Industry, saying it “codifies the implementation of approved conditions of service and collective bargaining agreements on minimum standards.”
Presenting the document in Lagos during the 2024 Day of the Dockworker, the NIMASA Director-General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said the document “encapsulates our commitment as an agency to ensuring that Nigerian dockworkers are treated fairly by the terminal operators and stevedoring companies.”
Speaking further, Mobereola, who was represented by the agency’s Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Jibril Abba, urged employers of labour to renew their commitment to improved workplace safety for the Nigerian dockworker. He declared that the safety of dockworkers in their workplace is a right, not a privilege.
Declaring that efficiency in the workplace can only be guaranteed when the safety of dockworkers is assured, he assured stakeholders that under his leadership, the agency will create an enabling environment for maritime labour to function according to international best practices.
“NIMASA is committed to supporting you with the tools, resources and training necessary to enhance efficiency. By working smarter, we not only boost our productivity but also ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of our maritime industry on the global stage,” he stated.
On his part, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, described the dock labour industry as a force to reckon with.
In a paper delivered by his representative and the agency’s General Manager, Marine and Operations, Dr. Charles Okaga, Dantsoho called on other government agencies to support dockworkers in capacity building for effective port terminal operations.
Also, the Chairperson of Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, Princess Vicky Haastrup, described dockworkers as unsung heroes, and commended NIMASA for recognising their contributions.
Meanwhile, the President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, used the occasion to advocate that port terminals employers provide insurance policies for dockworkers and their families.
MWUN also called on NIMASA to focus on regulating and compelling terminal operators to prioritise the health and welfare of dockworkers, stating that the inherent risks associated with cargo handling and their unique operations must be considered in line with their well-being.
