Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria backs call by Terminal Operators for review of vehicles/cars tariffs.

By Afolabi Oyekunle.

Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has align itself to the call by PTML and other Terminal Operators for increase in vehicles/cars tariffs, and therefore called on Nigeria Shippers Council to give kind consideration to the proposals.

PTML and other terminal operators have called for a review of tariffs as obtained in ENL, Joseph dam, Port and Cargo, citing rising cost of operation.

Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) said among others the vehicle/car tariffs has not been reviewed for over a decade.

The union said TML and other terminals operators under the umbrella of the Seaports Terminals Operators (STOAN) have over the years borne the burden of wages, salaries, and allowances; with management of Dockworkers as in saner economic climes, which unfortunately they cannot further shoulder due to general inflation rate, deteriorating economic condition; increasing operational/administrative costs; high rate of exchange value and other such economic factors.

PTML and other terminals operators have indicated their inability to meet with the provisions of the minimum standard of Dock labour, which they recently negotiated and signed for implementation as was supervised by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and NIMASA.

The union said the prevailing situation in the nation’s economy had directly hampered their capacity to implement the subsisting NJIC agreement.

The Union said as a result of the above and the inability of management to meet its obligations, and Dockworkers expectations, there’s now rising tension amongst the rank and file of Dockworkers members in all the terminals, ports, jetties, and all oil and gas platforms.

“We therefore, call on the management of NSC to give kind consideration to the proposal of PTML and other terminals operators to enable them meet their obligations to our members – Dockworkers, to forestall an imminent break down of industrial peace in our nation’s seaports as they are the economic regulators in this sector.”