By Victor Ahiuma-Young

Organised labour in the nation’s maritime industry, has petitioned President Jonathan, faulting the recent 75 percent increase in tariff of imported vehicles to the country, warning the new policy is not only a threat to the survival of the sector, but also job security of members.

*Maritime

Under the umbrella of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, in a three -page petition by the President-General and Secretary General of the union, Anthony Emmanuel Nted and Aham S. Ubani, respectively, MWUN said “we have roll on/roll off terminals in our ports specifically built for exclusive handling of imports and exports of vehicles.

“In this terminal, over 95 per cent of workers are Nigerians who earn their living on RORO operations. To the best of our knowledge most of the vehicle assembling plants we use to have in this country no longer exist.

“If, therefore, the federal government is serious in having vehicles manufactured in this country and in making Nigerians patronise made in Nigeria vehicles, the first thing to do is to provide the enabling environment.

“This includes local production of parts needed for the vehicle production. Steady power supply and all necessary infrastructure which are obviously lacking today.

”Today, and indeed in this festive season, the government policy on importation have made it difficult for genuine rice importers to bring in their rice through our ports. Many rice vessels destined to our ports are now being diverted to port of neighbouring countries.

“The negative effect of this is massive: Revenue accruing to the nation is lost to other neighbouring countries.
Nigerians who are supposed to work and earn their livings on this, are denied the work and livelihood. Large scale smuggling is thus encouraged are not controlled.”

“The business of fake/rebagging of inferior quantity rice not fit for human consumption is also out on the increase. This portends serious health hazards and drawback in our economy. The announcement of the minister of agriculture that Nigeria is able to produce enough rice locally, to feed itself is as at now a mere projection and cannot be realised in short term given our high level of rice consumption as a staple food.

“We, therefore, suggest that in the interim; that the benchmark on imports of rice be reviewed downward to encourage genuine importers to bring in the rice through Nigerian ports, reduce massive smuggling and effect proper quality control.

”This will also enhance cargo throughout in our ports and job security of Nigerians working in the maritime sector. We wish to point out that the effect of these policies is capable of heightening/provoking social unrest in the country and therefore portends danger in this pre-election year (2014).

”We, therefore, strongly advise the powers that be to review these policies inimical to the generality of Nigerians and defer the implementation in our national interest. Furthermore our members are yet to recover from the massive loss of unemployment during the port concession era and cannot bear any mass retrenchment which the current policy of government on tariffs/levies and bans/prohibitions portends.”