Haastrup: Terminal Operators Increased Dockworkers Wages by 2000% in 17years

The Chairman of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Vicky Haastrup, has said that Dockworkers who work at the ports have had their take-home increased by 2000 per cent since the Federal Government introduced the port reform in 2006.

Haastrup stated this during the maiden edition of Dockworkers Day organised by the Shipping Correspondent Association of Nigeria (SCAN) in Lagos.
Speaking on the themed, “Dockworkers, The Unsung Heroes of Port Reforms,” Haastrup said that before the port concession, dockworkers were poorly paid adding that there was no condition of service.

She said that the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBI) between the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and terminal operators has ensured industrial harmony.
She said, “Today, the average take-home pay of a dockworker has increased by more than 2,000 per cent over what it was in 2006. The Collective Bargaining Agreement between the union and terminal operators has also ensured industrial harmony at the port. Before the concession, dockworkers were poorly paid.”

Also speaking, President-General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju congratulated SCAN for putting together the eventful programme to celebrate Dockworkers: the veterans and our unsung Heroes still on duty.
“The Federal Government posited that the objectives of the reform include: to increase the efficiency of the Ports operation and elimination of overlapping between Nigerian Ports Authority as a technical regulator and other agencies.

“The Ports were delineated in 2006 to 25 Terminal operators with lease agreements ranging between 10 to 25years. Until now, the agreements have not been renewed because of inter-agency rivalries and the culprits are the unsung heroes: the Dockworkers, it is said that when two elephants fight the grass suffers, “he said.

Delivering the keynote address, the Registrar, Port & Terminal Management Academy Of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel O Babatunde said that four factors necessitate Port Reforms.
“No Doubt, the Ports has benefited from the Private Sector Experience of Ability to fix things Right. In likewise manner, Dockworkers has strategically assisted in the actualization of the desires of Port Reforms in the following ways:

“The Degree of Theft in Our Seaports has reduced drastically from recorded 55% now to 15% under the Port Reforms; The Degree of Port Efficiency, Effectiveness and Responsiveness has improved tremendously from previous figure of 25% now to 85 percent,” he stated.
Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, thanked SCAN for organising the program.

“Dockworkers are truly unsung heroes. How will any port function without them. This is so deserving for those who make the port to run. We are in solidarity and offer our partnership, friendship to move our country to the next level, “he stated