The strike by Nigerian workers to force
government to announce a new national minimum wage has paralysed
activities at the nation’s busiest seaports.
government to announce a new national minimum wage has paralysed
activities at the nation’s busiest seaports.
The ports, Lagos Port Complex Apapa and the Tin Can Island Port Complex, has been shut by the strike.
The industrial action was caused by the
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United
Labour Congress (ULC) to press home their demand for review of the
national minimum wage.
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United
Labour Congress (ULC) to press home their demand for review of the
national minimum wage.
The strike action affected marine services, cargo inspection and cargo delivery services at the port.
Officials of the Maritime Workers Union
of Nigeria (MWUN), which is an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress
(NLC) stormed the premises of the ports to enforce the strike by
stopping workers and port users from entering the
facilities.
of Nigeria (MWUN), which is an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress
(NLC) stormed the premises of the ports to enforce the strike by
stopping workers and port users from entering the
facilities.
The offices of Nigerian Ports Authority
(NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA),
Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) were
also affected by the industrial action.
(NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA),
Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) were
also affected by the industrial action.
The President-General, Maritime Workers
Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, said in compliance
with the directive of the NLC, the maritime workers union directed all
port dockworkers to join the strike action.
Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, said in compliance
with the directive of the NLC, the maritime workers union directed all
port dockworkers to join the strike action.
“As an affiliate of NLC, the strike is
still ongoing and we have directed all dock workers in all the nation’s
ports to go home until they (NLC) give us further directive on the next
line of action. From what I heard, may be they
are re-convening this afternoon but we will wait for further directive.
still ongoing and we have directed all dock workers in all the nation’s
ports to go home until they (NLC) give us further directive on the next
line of action. From what I heard, may be they
are re-convening this afternoon but we will wait for further directive.
“I do not expect the government to fold
its arms and allow the strike to degenerate into crisis because already
the country is suffering, talk less of adding injury to the condition of
average Nigerians.
its arms and allow the strike to degenerate into crisis because already
the country is suffering, talk less of adding injury to the condition of
average Nigerians.
“Government should do the needful so that
Nigerians can overcome these difficult situations. Even the N18,000
minimum wage, how many states are paying? Some owe 36 months and they
are not even ready to pay. The Paris Club refund
they gave to some of the states; some used it for political campaign.
It is only some that we can talk of that were able to pay. So we pray
they conclude it on time,” he said.
Nigerians can overcome these difficult situations. Even the N18,000
minimum wage, how many states are paying? Some owe 36 months and they
are not even ready to pay. The Paris Club refund
they gave to some of the states; some used it for political campaign.
It is only some that we can talk of that were able to pay. So we pray
they conclude it on time,” he said.
National Publicity Secretary, Association
of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Joe Sanni, said agents
could not transact business at the port because of the strike.
of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Joe Sanni, said agents
could not transact business at the port because of the strike.
He said, “Port operation is on total shut
down. None of the agencies are working including NPA (Nigerian Ports
Authority) except the Customs Processing Centre in Tin Can Island
Command but the Customs officers are not in the various
terminals.
down. None of the agencies are working including NPA (Nigerian Ports
Authority) except the Customs Processing Centre in Tin Can Island
Command but the Customs officers are not in the various
terminals.
We are affected when they are not working but there is nothing we can do.”
Reacting to the impact of the strike
action on port operations, Sanni expressed concern that the port may
face another major threat of cargo congestion if the strike is not
called off immediately.
action on port operations, Sanni expressed concern that the port may
face another major threat of cargo congestion if the strike is not
called off immediately.
“If the strike continues, we cannot rule
out port congestion. Taking a drive through the port is totally blocked
because the ports are not opened with long line of trucks with some
bearing containers, while some are empty. Those
that are inside the port have been shut out. The end point of this is
massive congestion. Meanwhile, there are some ships that cannot
discharge and there are some containers that ought to have been picked
but cannot be picked due to strike,” he said.
out port congestion. Taking a drive through the port is totally blocked
because the ports are not opened with long line of trucks with some
bearing containers, while some are empty. Those
that are inside the port have been shut out. The end point of this is
massive congestion. Meanwhile, there are some ships that cannot
discharge and there are some containers that ought to have been picked
but cannot be picked due to strike,” he said.
On cost implication for importers and
agents, he said, “The demurrages and the storage charges that will be
incurred by importers and transporters will certainly be high by the
time you multiply the number of containers that are
supposed to have been examined, released or taken delivery. If the
terminal operators want to release but because Customs officers are not
in the terminal, it means the day is gone.”
agents, he said, “The demurrages and the storage charges that will be
incurred by importers and transporters will certainly be high by the
time you multiply the number of containers that are
supposed to have been examined, released or taken delivery. If the
terminal operators want to release but because Customs officers are not
in the terminal, it means the day is gone.”
Director-General, Lagos Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of the
organized private sector called on the Federal Government to yield to
the demand of the labour unions, warning that the strike
will further compound the already bad situation at the port, in terms
of cost of cargo clearance if not addressed immediately.
Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of the
organized private sector called on the Federal Government to yield to
the demand of the labour unions, warning that the strike
will further compound the already bad situation at the port, in terms
of cost of cargo clearance if not addressed immediately.
“We already have issues of congestion,
demurrages and cargoes not moving out of the port on time. So the strike
will further compound the clearance of cargo and will increase interest
cost of importers. May be you borrow money
to import something and because of strike you cannot move it out, you
will be paying more interest and when cost increase for business, the
importer also transfers it to the final consumer. Invariable, it will
hit the average man on the street.
demurrages and cargoes not moving out of the port on time. So the strike
will further compound the clearance of cargo and will increase interest
cost of importers. May be you borrow money
to import something and because of strike you cannot move it out, you
will be paying more interest and when cost increase for business, the
importer also transfers it to the final consumer. Invariable, it will
hit the average man on the street.
“The government should quickly engage
them (labour) and agree on some of the terms. They have been on this for
a very long time but it is just that sometimes government don’t wake up
to some issues until it gets to end of point.”
them (labour) and agree on some of the terms. They have been on this for
a very long time but it is just that sometimes government don’t wake up
to some issues until it gets to end of point.”
Yusuf who described the existing minimum wage of N18,000 per month as inhuman.
He said, “The strike is long overdue. How
can you be paying a person N18, 000 minimum wage in this day and age
for a whole month especially coming from an institution?
can you be paying a person N18, 000 minimum wage in this day and age
for a whole month especially coming from an institution?
If it was a Small Medium Scale
Enterprise, then may be, but not an institution of government. So it is
long overdue, but I believe it is for a good reason if they have been
discussing all this while and nothing has happened.”
Enterprise, then may be, but not an institution of government. So it is
long overdue, but I believe it is for a good reason if they have been
discussing all this while and nothing has happened.”
