“National economy cannot afford any shutdown at this time.”-Bello-Koko

In furtherance of his commitment to ensure hitchfree sea port operations in Nigeria, the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA,  Mr. Mohammed Bello- Koko has rallied industry stakeholders to broker peace between the aggrieved  Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria MWUN and marginal field operators in the oil and gas industry over what they termed as NPA’s non-compliance with Stevedoring regulations.

Last week,  the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria issued an ultimatum to shut down all oil production and allied platforms over non-compliance with the stevedoring regulations, lack of access to work locations and lack of remittance of three per cent MWUN levy by Stevedores.

To avert the loomin  shut down, Mohammed Bello-Koko, called a crucial meeting of relevant stakeholders and pleaded with the maritime workers to shelve the industrial action.

According to Bello-Koko “We will do all it takes to ensure industrial harmony and prevent the shutdown of crucial production platforms of the oil and gas and allied industries that maritime workers control. The national economy cannot afford any shutdown at this time.”

Maritime Nigeria gathered that after hours of deliberations, agreement was reached between all parties concerned and the signing of a communique addressing the workers’ grievances and suspension of the planned strike proposed strike.

Some key persons who attended the peace meeting were the Executive Vice-President (Down Stream) for Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL, Mr. Adedapo Segun, Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress NLC, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, President, National Association of Stevedoring Operators NASO, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, Managing Director Nigerian Pipeline Storage Company NPSC, Mr. Bayo Adenrele and Assistant Director Distribution System, Storage and Retail Infrastructure of the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority NMDPRA and other industry leaders.