Dockworkers Score STOAN 80% Pass Mark on Implementation of NJIC Agreement
Princess Vicky Haastrup, Chairperson STOAN
By DAPO OLAWUNI
President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Abdulwaheed Adeyanju has lauded terminal operators in the implementation of the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) agreement it signed last year.
President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Adeyanju
In a bid to ensure a better living standard for dock workers in the Nigeria maritime industry, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) alongside the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) Stevedoring Companies under the aegis of the NJIC had signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
The CBA is intended to improve the welfare of dock workers in line with global best practices.
Speaking with DAILY TREND NEWS on the sidelines of an event in Lagos yesterday, Comrade Adeyanju said the stakeholders have complied with the agreement by 80percent.
He however threatened that the union would be descending on other terminal operators who are yet to comply with the provisions of the agreement.
“We have an NJIC that we signed with the terminal operators, we are coming to visit all these terminals that are not proactive in business and are not ready to go into international business”
“Port operations is not a local business, so if one terminal is not doing what its other colleagues are doing, then the government should look inwards before they renew or review their appointment”
“The implementation of the NJIC agreement so far has been encouraging, I can say we have gotten 80% implementation”
“The dockworkers know their do’s and donts on the NJIC, the areas we are having challenges is being handled internally in conjunction with the stakeholders, NIMASA who midwifed the NJIC”
“If the workers are not well paid, you would see it in their faces, but with the NJIC that came into place, I don’t think we have any problem” he said
The agreement which was painstakingly documented involves increases in the wages and allowances of dockworkers and certain emoluments and benefits, which includes; payment of redundancy and retirement benefits by terminal operators to aged dockworkers, payment of specified allowances to a deceased dock worker’s next of kin and pension contribution scheme for dock workers amongst other items listed in the agreement.
