The Nigerian Ports Authority branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has said that workers of NPA on retirement scheme rose from 180 per cent to 280 per cent.
The president of the branch, Comrade Edward Mazeli, disclosed this in a chat with Financial Street in Lagos during the 5th Quadriennal Branch Delegates Conference.
Mazeli, who commended the agency for the feat, also raised an alarm over the gradual extinction of junior staff employees under the agency.
He lamented that the numerical strength of members of the union was dwindling daily, attributing the decline to promotions, retirements and death.
Mazeli also stressed the need for management of the NPA to employ more junior staff to boost the workforce and productivity, in aid of the revenue drive of the nation.
“The numerical strength of our members are dwindling every day. This is a result of promotions, retirements and death, which is a natural phenomenon.
“We wish to use this opportunity to once again appeal to our management to employ more junior workers to boost the workforce,” he said.
According to him, hundreds of private jetties operating in the country were without the presence of workers of the agency, stressing the need to reverse the trend for obvious reasons.
Also, the acting Managing Director, NPA, Mr Bello Mohammed, commended the union for the scientific method of engaging management of the agency.Mohammed, who was represented at the event by the General Manager, Human Resources of NPA, Hajere Mohammed, described the MWUN president-general as a bridge builder and smooth operator.
He said the group had grown from its hooliganism and violent approach in engaging management.
The NPA boss noted that owing to their current relationship, the unions had achieved tremendous results due to the systematic steps to achieve welfare demand.
“Unionism is all about partnership and I have witnessed that with your union. You have been resilient in some of your requests, and keep engaging us constructively,” he added.
