By Uzor Odigbo
Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Thursday, called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to renew the biometric identity cards of members of the seafarers and dockworkers branches of the union.
The union lamented that unregistered workers have been usurping the jobs meant for legitimate dockworkers and that the union is no longer comfortable with such practice in port operations.
The labour union further disclosed that it might be forced to address the issues through an operation code-named “Option B” if the relevant government authority fails to yield to their demand immediately.
It would be recalled that NIMASA under its erstwhile Director-General,Temi Omatseye, the dockworkers biometric identity card project was initiated.
The initiative was lauded by stakeholders, notably the leadership and membership of the Dockworkers Branch of the MWUN, who unanimously declared that the biometric identity card gave them a sense of belonging that they had not felt since the ports concession programme took effect in 2006.
President General of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju who disclosed this at the Dockworkers Branch Working Committee (BWC) of the union held in Lagos, maintained that dockworkers in recent times are peace loving people who will always ensure industrial harmony in the port operations but must not be taken for granted by any group of persons in the industry.
He accused some of the port concessionaires of engaging the services of unregistered dockworkers,warning that the union would be forced to tour some of the errant facilities in a bid to apply “Option B ” tactics.
He described the practice of engaging unregistered workers by terminal operators as unprofessional, noting that the union will not hesitate to clampdown on such persons.
“We want NIMASA to renew our biometric identity card because for about four years down the line we are yet to renew the biometric for dockworkers because it has expired.
“All dockworkers, including seafarers Nigeria seaports are well registered and we are appealing to them to renew the biometric,” he added.
According to him, the union will further alert security agencies to ensure that the unregistered workers are apprehended.
While harping on the need for training and retraining of members of the union, the President General reiterated that the union has put in place measures to empower members through local and international training programme.
He also frowned at government negligence of the Apapa Oshodi expressway linking the port corridors, even as he pointed out that the union could spring surprises over the last ultimatum issued for the authority to fix the failed portion of the road.