Sea Ports Closed Over Dock Workers’ Wages

In a bid to achieve their demand, dock workers in the  seaports went on a peaceful strike on Tuesday,  8 March, after series of meetings with executives of the union  and terminal management, the action was called off  in the evening of the same day .

The Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN)  explained that  because of  the prevailing economic condition in the country, it will be difficult to implement a review of dock workers’ wages.

STOAN Spokesman, Mr. Bolaji Akinola, stated that unless the review of terminal handling charges is effected and implemented by the terminal operators, it will be practically impossible to pay any increased wages.

“We understand the position of the maritime workers union but the issue right now is not about us not wanting to pay; rather it is an issue based on the fact that we cannot pay. The money is just not there to pay so even if we enter into any review agreement, it will be extremely difficult to implement because there is just no money to back up any such review”, Akinola stated in reaction to a 14-day ultimatum issued by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).

The STOAN spokesman, however, expressed optimism that government would soon make the necessary adjustments to bring the operations of the terminal operators back to profitability because, according to him, “right now the terminal operators are daily losing huge sums of money”.

“They are our workers and it is a known fact that the terminal operators are very much interested in the welfare and well-being of their workers.

“We treat them well and as soon as we are able to pay, why not?”, he stated.

He explained that the earnings of the concessionaires have depleted in the past five years. “You may recall that we reduced terminal handling charges by 30 percent in 2006 at the instance of the Federal Government when we took over the various terminals but since then we have not been allowed to adjust for inflation and the erosion of the value of the naira against the dollar, even though the concession agreement gives room for such adjustments.

—Esther Komolafe