NPA celebrates staff in a night of glitz

It was a night of glamour and razz-ma-tazz when the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) celebrated some of its outstanding staff at the Eko Hotels and Suites yesterday.

The occasion was the  2017/2018 long service and merit award to honour staff who have been in the NPA from 25 years and above.

It was also meant to celebrate staff who have distinguished themselves in their service to the authority.

The Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman,stated that the event was meant to reward the labour of staff as well as to show  the premium  the NPA management places on the contributions of all the staff to the development of the authority.

“This is an ambitious management which intends not to leave the NPA the way it met it but to push it forward to meet the international best practices.

“The management is committed to not just change the way things are done but to bequeath a tradition of transparency, excellent service delivery that will make our ports not only the hub in the sub-region but the best in the continent” Hadiza declared.

She told the appreciative guests and staff that the conviction of the authority that the workforce is an integral part of whatever success it aspires to achieve made it to periodically show appreciation for the dedication of staff.

“We have gathered here tonight to honour our long-serving and dedicated employees of 25 years upwards and at the same time  celebrate those who have demonstrated excellence by achieving uncommon feats in the course of duty”  the NPA MD stated.

Usman further disclosed that the NPA authority recognised the important role of staff to the attainment of the 25- year port development  plan , hence its decision  to prioritise staff conditions of service with robust provisions to equip employees to be the best motivated in the industry.

“We have also worked towards correcting all previous anomalies in our salary structure to ensure justice in career progression of our staff” she declared.

The NPA chief said her administration took the welfare of staff seriously and considered  the need to train and retrain them towards capacity building to enable them cope with the dynamism of the industry.

She assured the jubilant staff of better days ahead in the NPA.

All the the dignitaries at the event,  especially Minister of Transportation, the Secretary to to the Federal government, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Members of House committee on Marine Transport, former managing directors were unanimous in their commendation for Ms Usman for her welfarist administrative style in NPA which they attributed to the well motivated workforce that has helped in driving her vision for efficient service delivery.

Dr. Ngige asked other heads of maritime government agencies to emulate the welfarist administrative style of Usman to enable them have a crisis-free labour relations.

Alhaji Bello Gwandu, who spoke on behalf of other past Managing Directors declared that Usman has changed the face of NPA and work ethics of staff since he left the agency many years ago, and added rather jokingly “I would vote for you if NPA were to be a political party”

The well attended  event attracted the representative of the Secretary to the Federal government, Boss Mustapha, Minister of Labour and Productive, Dr Chris Ngige, representative of Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, former Managing Directors of NPA, members of House  Committee  on Marine Transport, management and Board of NPA, Director- General of Nigerian Maritime  Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside and other captains of the industry