$29m debt: Maritime workers vow to shut firm

By Ajibola Abayomi

Lagos

Following the inability of the Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited to pay members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) a total a sum $29 million (N10.6 billion) being the cost of services rendered at the port, the union has vowed to shut down operations of the company.
President-General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, disclosed this in Lagos at the weekend and vowed that the Union would implement the threat.
Saipem owed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) $19.3 million (N6.9 billion) for pilotage services, and dockworkers who are members of MWUN, through their stevedoring contractor, Agwut A. International Ltd, more than $10.4 million (N3.7 billion) for accumulated stevedoring services.
The Executive Director, Marine and Operations of NPA, Dr. Sokonte Davies confirmed the company’s huge debts in a letter dated 15thNovember 2017.
In the letter with reference number HQ/ED/M&O/OP/1130 addressed to the Managing Director of Saipem Contracting Nigeria Ltd, Davies said the huge indebtedness and Saipem’s lackluster attitude to meeting its financial obligations for the pilotage and stevedoring services is capable of stoking industrial crisis in the port.
The letter reads: “We are constrained to once more draw your attention to the looming industrial crisis you are stoking by the refusal of your company to pay outstanding stevedoring claims to Messrs Agwut A. International Ltd.
“You will recall that following the threatened industrial action by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, whose members are affected by the non-payment, the Nigerian Ports Authority intervened through letters ref: HQ/ED/M&O/OP/799 and HQ/ED/M&O/OP/806 dated 22ndAugust 2017 and 12th September 2017 respectively. Further clarifications were made to stakeholders at a meeting recently held on stevedoring matters in which your company participated.

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