…As stakeholders pour encomiums on Nted

Stories by Bimbola Oyesola, 08033246177

NIGERIaN labour unions have warned that the Economic Recovery Plan might just be another futile dream and mirage, without the rehabilitation of the nation’s ports.

This is even as stakeholders in the maritime sector have poured encomiums on the outgoing president-general of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Anthony Nted, for the enduring peace and industrial harmony that prevailed in the industry during his tenure.

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, speaking at the send-off organised by MWUN for Nted at the weekend, lamented the poor state of roads and other infrastructure in the ports, which he said might have been responsible for the high cost of  clearing goods in Nigeria.

“Maritime plays an important role in the economy, the port is the gateway for other investments coming into the country. Wonder why some people would want to freight goods through other West Africa countries, this is because our cost is high. For example, freighting from Geneva, we gathered, costs 1,000CFA to Nigeria as against 600CFA to other West African countries,” Wabba said.

Noting that the problems of Nigeria were systemic, the NLC president charged the Federal Government to find a way of removing the bottlenecks in the nation’s ports operations.

He said, “Why is it difficult to fix our roads after so many years? The problems of Nigeria are systemic, what works in other countries do not work here. In Ethiopia, the government runs the airline and it works, it’s not a matter of whether the enterprise is private or public, here we lack prudence, accountability and trust.”

On his part, Nted posited that the Federal Government has failed the maritime sector of the economy.

“People lose their lives every day due to the bad roads leading to the ports, whereas the importance of these roads cannot be overemphasised, as a result clearance in the  port is stagnating.”

Nted stated that government should create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and more job opportunities, warning that those in positions of leadership should stop playing on people’s intelligence by mixing politics with business.

The chairperson of the event, Vicky Haastrup, chair of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), commended the outgoing MWUN president-general for the unprecedented peace and progress he brought to the maritime sector.

She said, “He indeed created cordial relationships between the workers and the employers. It was not all rosy at the beginning because he fought for the right of dock workers and made the employers to recognise the fact that workers are our partners in progress, who have the right to live.

“Before his emergence, there used to be incessant stoppage of work at the port, which is not good for the country, as the port is crucial to the economy.”

The new president-general of MWUN, Adeyanju Adewale, said the event  in honour of the Nted was the first in the history of the union as a mark of recognition of Nted’s exemplary character and philanthropic activities.

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NAAT wants  FG to expedite sanctions against corrupt VCs

Worried by the persistent corruption cases within the university system, organised labour in the sector has tasked the Federal Government to expedite action in sanctioning any vice chancellor against whom a prima facie case has been established.

The workers, under the umbrella of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), in a communiqué issued at the end of its 32nd National Executive Council meeting presided over by its national president, Sani Suleiman, in Calabar, Cross River State, expressed dissatisfaction on the trend.

Among other things, the communiqué, signed by the general secretary, Iyoyo Hamilton, condemned the shortfall in personnel cost currently being experienced by federal and state universities, and, therefore, urged the federal government to urgently arrest the situation for the sustenance of peace in the university system.

The union lamented the non-payment of the balance of earned allowances, arrears and FG’s lack of commitment to the full implementatiuon of the 2009 FG/NAAT agreement.

“The union, therefore, demands immediate payment of the arrears and full implementation of the agreement, in order to avoid possible industrial disharmony,” the document read.

It equally implored the federal government to speed up the agreement renegotiation process going on between the four unions in the university system and the federal government team.

On the utilisation of the Paris Club refund, NAAT recommended that the federal government  should put in place necessary mechanisms to monitor state governments, to ensure judicious utilisation of refund released to the states recently.

NAAT also called on government to quickly put in motion all machinery necessary to arrest the pains and sufferings that have been inflicted on Nigerians as a result of the present  economic recession.

The union, however, commended the federal government for the giant strides made in strengthening the value of the naira against foreign currencies in recent times and called for continuity in that regard.

It stated further, “NAAT commends FGN for the efforts so far made in the restoration of peace in troubled regions of the country. However, more still needs to be done in tackling insecurity in the following areas, kidnapping and bloody clashes between herdsmen and farmers, as exemplified in the recent killings in Zaki Biam,  Benue State.”

The union condemned the ongoing wrangling in the National Assembly, especially in the Senate, which it described as as unnecessary.

“The National Assembly should be more concerned with serious issues confronting the nation such as economic recession, insecurity, infrastructural decay and others, rather than wasting taxpayers’ money on irrelevant issues such as certificate saga, witch-hunting of one another, etc.,” NAAT said.

In addition, it expresses gratitude to God for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari from his recent health challenges, and prayed for his complete healing to enable him continue to govern of the country.