The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria after two decades of negotiations.
The agreement establishes minimum conditions of service for maritime workers, marking a significant milestone in the industry.
The signing ceremony, presided over by Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola, brought together key stakeholders, including the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Shipping Agencies, Clearing and Forwarding Employers Association, according to Peoples Gazette.
The MoU aims to promote safety standards, fair competition, and trust in the system, ultimately enhancing workers’ welfare and contributing to the growth of the blue economy.
Industry leaders have welcomed the agreement, hailing it as a social partnership for progress in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The agreement’s signing is seen as a testament to the government’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare and promoting harmony in the industry. Stakeholders have been encouraged to uphold the agreement’s tenets and work towards continuous improvement to ease the time of doing business in the ports.
Speaking at the event, Mr Oyetola said that the agreement ensured that the industry was built on respect as the workforce was treated with dignity.
He said that the signing of the agreement would support those who contributed to the growth of the blue economy.
Mr Oyetola said that the MoU was a reflection of the trajectory of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying that by establishing this, the Federal Government had enhanced workers welfare.
Oyetola said, “We have seen today that a lot can be achieved through collaboration and mutual respect. We are also promoting safety standards, encouraging fair competition for level-playing field as well as enhancing trust in the system.’’
In his welcome remarks, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Pius Akutah, attributed the attainment to the exemplary leadership of the Blue Economy Minister even as he commended the MWUN and SACFEA leaders.
He commended the minister for his love for the welfare of workers.
“The minister has pushed us to get to this level and I want to take this opportunity to commend your Chief of Staff for pushing us to achieve excellence via teamwork and collaboration,” Mr Akutah said.
