By Chinyere Aruogu
Maritime operators made good their threat to shut operations across the nation’s seaports if the authorities do not rescind their decision on the Maritime Act Bill.
They served notice recently, and on Tuesday, July 11 caused activities to be stagnated as labour unions protested against the Ports and Harbour bill pending at the National Assembly.
The union leaders alleged bias and selfishness over the planned bill.
Though peaceful, the demonstration held in all the seaports across the country, according to the unionists, which they said served as a warning to the government to withdraw the bill which the unions say is anti- people and obnoxious.
They fear that if the bill is passed into law, it would destroy the nation’s ports operations and throw thousands of workers into the labour market.
The protest which was led by leaders of both the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Senior Staff Association of Communication, Transport and Corporation (SSACTAC) at the Lagos Ports Complex (LPC)in Lagos , saw a mammoth crowd, some of them displaying strong worded placards.
Following the protest, human and vehicular movement around Lagos were halted as vehicles were not allowed in and out of the port. Many container laden trucks in the port ready to exit were stuck.
Speaking to newsmen, at the Lagos Ports Complex, Apapa entry gate, President General of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju urged the government to throw away the bill because it negates the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) act of 1955 as amended.
“If this bill is being passed into law; it will lead to massive job loss to members and not all the workers currently with NPA will be absolved, he said.”
Adeyanju added: “Experience has thought us what happened in the past when the seaports were concession 10years ago,government said nobody will lose their job but from what we are about to see right now; if this bill is passed into law then thousands of workers in the maritime industry will lose their jobs.
“The bill if passed will send dockworkers,seamen,shipping operators staff, NPA workers to the labour market and the bill does not make provision for those who will not be absolved because there will no payment for them by the new Nigerian Harbour Authority.”
He described the bill as a security risk to the nation when passed into law noting, “this bill must not see the light of the day,” adding, “we want to use this medium to appeal to members of the NASS and its leaders to throw away this because it seeks to do more harm to the majority and favour the few individuals promoting it.”
President of SSACTAC Benson Adegbeyeni accused members of the National Assembly of shortchanging Nigerians after being voted into power.
He recalled that the 2006 port concession made many Nigerians lose their jobs and that the union will never allow such to come again through such bill.
Adegbeyemi said: “On Our part, as organised labour, we unequivocally reject this bill and to show our resolve, as we speak with you and all the ports formations nationwide have been shut down since 6am today.
“And we are determined to ensure that Nigeria and Nigerians are not short changed by this obnoxious bill.”