By Stephen Ubanna
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, have begun Negotiations with the Nigeria Joint Industrial Council, NJIC, that could culminate into the signing of the revised Collective Bargaining Agreement , CBA, meant to improve the Welfare package for the country’s Dockworkers as obtained in other maritime nations.
Ever since the information filtered out about the negotiation of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, dockworkers were said to have been in a festive mood as they heave sigh of relief of going to earn decent wage and enjoy good standard of living like their Counterparts in other parts of the world.The NIMASA and the NJIC, were said to have endorsed the initial CBA, in 2018.
At the recent tripartite Agreement meeting, the parties were said to have discussed a ‘’revised minimum wage and improved standard of living for the dockworkers.
Victor Ochei, who was at the meeting in his Capacity as the Maritime Regulatory Agency Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, was said to have pledged the agency commitment to ‘’the protection of the rights and welfare of dockworkers as guaranteed in the International Labour Organisation, ILO, decent work agenda’’.
Ochei may have spoken the mind of Bashir Jamoh, the agency Director General, when he stated that, ‘’dockworkers are integral part to the efficient and effective stedoring operation at the ports .He noted that NJIC , had ‘’remained resolute in ensuring harmonious working relationships at the ports through the principle of tripartism and the execution OF CBA, on minimum wage and decent standard of living for the dockworkers in the nation’s maritime industry.
Many believe that the talks about enhancing the welfare package of the dockworkers took may have formed the kernel of the negotiations between NIMASA the Council members at the tripartite Agreement meeting because Ochei, the NIMASA Executive Directoris the Chairman of the NJIC.
The NIMASA Executive Director who could not hide his feelings was said to have given kudos to the dockworkers for keeping the nation’s maritime industry busy despite the Wuhan Town in Hebei Province of the Asian country of China emerged coronavirus, popular COVID1 9. He was said to have repeatedly drummed it at the meeting as an insider ’’ that NIMASA, is determined to ensure that the dockworkers got what was due to them’’.
Appealing to the Council members to Cooperate with the agency, he disclosed that ‘’it is the way forward towards ensuring that they reach a meaningful negotiation that would culminate in the signing of the revised CBA’’. He stated that the agency had made necessary arrangements for the successful Council proceedings.
The NIMASA top official averred that ‘’the success of the tripartite CBA Agreement would further demonstrate Nigeria’s compliance and commitment the ideals of the ILO which is an agency of the United Nations, UN, in its Decent Work Agenda’’. The ILO, Decent Work Agenda, ‘’seeks to promote Safe work, decent wage and freedom of Association’’, as indicated by a document cited by The Value News.
Joyce Udinwang, a Federal government Representative at the NIMASA and NJIC tripartite Agreement meeting, was said to have expressed the Federal ministry of Transport, under the close watch of Rotimi Amachi , commitment to the improved welfare of the dockworkers. She had pledged the ministry’s resolve to ensure tha t’’ no dockworker in Nigeria was shortchanged by the employer’’.
She was said to have pleaded with the parties involved in the tripartite Agreement for more Cooperation in order to achieve results. There are indications that the terminal operators and other employer of the dockworkers at the country’s seaports have been doing the best they can to enhance the welfare package of the dockworkers but Maritime analysts still believe that they could still do more.
Kunle Folarin, a Representative of the Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, STOAN, at the tripartite Agreement meeting may have gladdened the heart of Ochei, the NIMASA, Executive Director, who incidentally is the Chairman of NJIC, when he applauded the agency for its role over the years ‘’to promote peace and harmonious working relations in the nation’s maritime industry. A happy Folarin was said to have laid emphasis on the need for the NJIC members to Cooperate with NIMASA ‘’to further sustain the peace and unity at the ports.
There are about eight functional ports in the country. They are the Lagos ports of of Apapa, Tin-can can Island, Port Multi-services Terminal Limited, PTML, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, KLT, Phases I & II and the south east ports of Port Harcourt Area I, Onne, Rivers Porto Delta port, Warri and the port of Calabar, Cross river state. Shipping Companies and Agents take their Ocean going vessels to theses ports to discharge their cargoes which requires the services of these dockworkers.
Other members of the NJIC, who were said to be at the tripartite Agreement meeting were Charles Okaga, President, , National Association of Stevedoring Companies,, NASC, and Bolaji Ajumola including a Representative of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA. Okaga and Ajumola, were said to have assured the NJIC members of their support towards the implementation of the improved welfare package of the Seafarers.
Recall that that in 2018, the NJIC and NIMASA, had signed the CBA, that was said to have elapsed on May 31, 2020. The CBA, which was for a two-year period, according to a Council, source was ‘’tended to ensure industrial peace in the industry. ‘’It involve requirements for the fair treatment of dockworkers, principally, making sure that every employee gets an employment letter and a package of terminal benefits when their contract expires’’, the source enthused.
