Why NPA Delay Over N1 Billion Payment to Tally Clerks, Onboard Security

…As Dockworkers Get Trust Funds, Corporative Society 

Fresh indications have emerged that despite the directive by the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) should commence disbursement of severance payments to Tally Clerks and Onboard Security whose employment was terminated by NPA years ago, the authority is yet to make payments.

Some affected members of the union had gone to the commissioner of police to seek permission to carry placards over delays in the payment.

Some of the dockworkers had also alleged underground moves to inflate the list of the already verified tally clerks and onboard security.

President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) while calming frayed nerves of the dockworkers at a meeting in Lagos last week however revealed that NPA is working out modalities of payment as the money currently runs over N1 billion.

According to him, getting out such a humongous amount from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) requires proper arrangement, and that the NPA was still working assiduously to determine the mode of payment to the dockworkers nationwide.

Adeyanju assured that the NPA management is meeting with leadership of the union, adding that both parties are not resting on their oars to ensure they get the said money.

“You have nothing to fear, the money is intact, NPA has assured that the money would be paid, because of the TSA, the payment was delayed, but I have met with the NPA MD and the Woman is working very hard to make sure this money gets out” Adeyanju assured his members. 

He said that after the verification that was done, nobody can add any name to the list or remove from it. He also assured the workers that the NPA is paying the money directly into the accounts of the workers, adding that the payment is not passing through the union.

Adeyanju also revealed that MWUN has created a trust fund, as well as a corporative society for its members in order to ensure self sufficiency.Recall that the union had recently announced that it has diversified into other businesses, especially haulage, and exportation of drinkable water to the United Arab Emirate.

Speaking on the trust fund, the MWUN President General said the Corporative Society is being managed by Zenith Bank, while the union is still looking for a reputable bank to handle the trust fund.

On the trust fund, he said “N1000 times the number of workers we have at the port is a lot of money, and we want to get a very good bank that would run it for us, if any members have problems they go there and get help”

“The corporative society has kick started very well, the turnout was massive and we have even extended it to the out ports. These are the projects we have in mind before, the former president had it in minds but the people he entrusted it with failed”

“For now, Zenith Bank is Managing the corporative, for the trust fund, we are looking for a bank that will give us a soft landing. Its going to be like a daily thrift, its the number of days you work that you would get money. We started about two months ago and the turnout has been massive, it comprises of the four branches of the union” he said

Adeyanju informed that the seafarers arm of the union already have that in place, as he urged the dock workers to executives to agree  on the particular amount that would suit the dock workers.

“As I am talking to you the seafarers have their own trust fund but I believe the dock workers should have their own too. We need to set up a technical committee that will also manage it for the dock workers”. He said.