The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, has appealed to the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria to halt its scheduled strike.
In a statement on Monday, Bello-Koko revealed that the NPA has effectively facilitated reconciliation between the union and oil and gas industry operators concerning issues related to Stevedoring regulations non-compliance.
The MWUN had, last week, threatened to shut the nation’s seaports, jetties, and oil and gas platforms on Tuesday (today) over what it described as the continued refusal of the International Oil Companies and Stevedoring Contractors to comply with the Stevedoring Extant Laws, “lack of access to work locations, lack of remittance of 3 percent MWUN levy by Stevedores.”
The union expressed dissatisfaction, noting that despite numerous letters, press releases, ultimatums, marine notices, and ministerial orders, all were consistently disregarded. They held the NPA responsible for permitting IOCs to operate without oversight.
In response, Bello-Koko assured that the agency is committed to taking necessary measures to foster peace and industrial harmony among the involved parties.
“We will do all it takes to ensure industrial harmony and prevent the shutdown of crucial production platforms of the oil and gas, and allied industries that maritime workers control. The national economy cannot afford any shutdown at this time,” he said.
At the conclusion of the meeting held at the agency’s headquarters in Marina, Lagos State, Bello-Koko disclosed that a communiqué addressing the workers’ grievances and announcing the suspension of the planned strike action was signed.
Among those present were Executive Vice-President (Downstream) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mr. Adedapo Segun; Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Adewale Adeyanju; President of the National Association of Stevedoring Operators, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola; Managing Director of the Nigerian Pipeline Storage Company, Mr. Bayo Adenrele; and the Assistant Director, Distribution System, Storage and Retail Infrastructure of the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, alongside other industry leaders