By Godfrey Bivbere

PRESIDENT General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Tony Nted Emmanuel, has slammed terminal operators and dockworkers for incessant accidents at the port over protective safety gadgets.

The MWUN boss, who disclosed this in Lagos, said some of the terminal operators do not provide dockworkers with the needed safety gadgets when working at the port which is a contravention of the concession agreement.

He noted that the union would no longer take it lightly with any terminal operator that failed to provide dockworkers with the required safety gadgets in the event of any work place accident.

The union leader also faulted some of his members who were in the habit of not wearing the safety gadget given to them by their terminal operators, and warned that such dockworkers were in danger of losing their entitlements should they meet with an accident while performing their lawful duties.

Chairman of the Board of NIMASA, Gen. Jonathan India Garba (retd.) and Executive Director, Maritime Services, Mallam Gambo Ahmed, at the conclusion of the tour of facilities under the apex maritime agency in Lagos yesterday.

Terminal operators

He said, “the union is not sleeping, we are not blaming the terminal operators alone, and sometimes we also blame our members. Most times 70 percent of the blame goes to terminal operators, especially when people are working in a hazardous area; you need to give the workers the necessary safety gadgets to work.

“The safety officers of each terminal operator also need to give the workers pep talk, enlighten them before they commence work. They should also ensure that nobody gets drunk before coming to work which is very common with our people. Some of them will be at the gate where they will get drunk and when you are drunk you will not be able to manage yourself, you will not know what is happening around you.

“When there is an accident on board the vessel, we take pro-active measures immediately, we bring in the P&I club (an international insurance club in the global maritime industry). You know there are some accidents that happen that the workers would insist on going for native treatment instead of going to the hospital and you know that with native, when you come back and you bring your bill they will tell you we do not know about it.”

On the forthcoming elections, he assured that they would do everything within their power to make it free and fare. He noted that despite the various petitions against him, his leadership will not be distracted but will continue to work to ensure that capable people take over from the present leadership that will be leaving office next month after the elections.