The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Habib Abdullahi has said that the Authority was fully committed to the maintenance of industrial harmony in the Nation’s seaports.
Mallam Abdullahi disclosed this recently while speaking at a stakeholders meeting on the services of Tally clerks and On-board Security men at Best Western Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Represented by the Executive Director , Marine and Operations, Engineer David Omonibeke (FNSE), the Managing Director said in a bid to demonstrate this commitment, the Authority would continue to engage all stakeholders in order to ensure that all rules of engagement were followed to the later for the benefit of all, without fouling the law.
Engineer Omonibeke noted that NPA as a law abiding corporate organization appreciated the roles of Tally clerks and On-board Security Men in ports operations and had convened the meeting so that all conflicts in the sector could be properly explained in the face of the law and the provisions of the port reforms.
In explaining its position, NPA emphasized that its responsibility on payment to dockworkers and tally clerk ceased with the commencement of the present concession regime from 2006 when it was relieved of the following functions, which were taken over by the private sector-Cargo handling operations, Dock labor management, Development and maintenance of terminal super structure, Acquisition and maintenance of operational equipment, Maintenance of safety and security within the terminals amongst others.
Consequently, in pursuant of the above, the terminal operators engaged stevedoring contractors who employed NIMASA certified dockworkers needed for cargo handling in operational areas other than the jetties that belong to and are being operated by the Authority.
Furthermore , according to the enforcement and ratification Act of 2004, the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code is chapter X1-2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). SOLAS was domesticated in Nigeria by the Enforcement and Ratification Act of 2004. Since ISPS Code is part of SOLAS which is now part of our domestic laws, it spells the duties and responsibilities of all entities in the new maritime security regime.
Under company and ships it states that ‘’any company operating ships to which chapter X1-2 and part 2A of this code apply has to delegate a Company Security Officer (CSO) for the company and a Ship Security Officer (SSO) for each of its ships .The duties, responsibilities and training requirements of these officers and requirements for drills and exercises are defined in part A of this code’’.
‘’In view of this Act, the following responsibilities are clearly stated as follows; on a ship, the Ship Security Officer (SSO) is responsible for security .This responsibility gives SSOs a key role in ensuring the continued effectiveness of the Maritime Security measures.
Responsibility of the master of their ship and reporting to the CSOs ashore, SSO: Ensure that the ship and its shipboard personnel operate in accordance with the approved Ship Security plan( SSP), Maintain security at all times, May have the responsibility for shipboard personnel with the designated security responsibilities, Ensure that contact is established and maintained with the Port Facility Security Officers (PFSOs) at the port facilities that the ship uses and Liaise as necessary with the PSOs/PFSOs or other officers and officials ashore with security responsibilities
Arising from the above named meeting, the NPA summarised its position that it would not re-engage the Dock labour contractors at the expiration of their current contract tenure which was due to expire on 15th December 2015.
In view of the fact that their contracts would expire on the date stated above, the Authority will from that date be relieved of the responsibility of engaging them and making any payments to them, since there will be no basis for doing so.
It would therefore be expected that NIMASA would take over the responsibility of dealing with dock labour matters in line with its statutory mandate.
Earlier, the Chairman of the forum, Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Transport, ably represented by the Director Maritime Services, Alhaji Isa Galadanchi, had called on all stakeholders to express their views on the way forward in the Maritime sector, stressing that there was need to agree on who pays for the services of tally clerks and on-board security men.
Stakeholders who made presentations during the meeting included the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Seaport Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN), Shipping Companies and National Association of Stevedoring Companies.
Others are the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC).
The Representative of Permanent secretary directed all stakeholders to channel their submissions for proper harmonisation through electronic mail to the Federal Ministry of Transport.
He promised to reconvene the forum at a future date for a feedback on the decisions reached.
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