Unions condemn attack on NPA MD, Usman … Mazeli bags honorary award

Both the senior and junior staff unions of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have condemned the recent attacks on the Managing Director of the agency, Hadiza Bala Usman at the National Assembly.

The two unions, NPA branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Senior Staff Association of Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Maritime branch have said they will soon make public their stand on the controversial Secure Anchorage Area (SAA).

The two unions who lauded the current leadership of NPA under Usman added that its decisions should not be linked with politics.

President, NPA branch of MWUN, Comrade Ifeanyi Mazeli who made this known during the week when he was receiving an award for his contributions to the development of the sector and humanitarian affairs.

Mazeli noted that the unions are totally against the attack on the Managing Director of the agency pointing out that the labour groups are not politically motivated but must take a decision whenever issues affecting the organization are not properly handled.

He berated the National Assembly for failing to have adequate security on ground in protecting lives and property of those invited to the Assembly for official assignments.

According to him, the NPA workers will continue to stand by the current MD of the agency and will not give room for any individuals or groups to embarrass her.

He noted that attack on Hadiza was purely politicized calling on the agitators to separate politics from meaningful national issues.

“She went to the National Assembly because of issues affecting us the workers, not for jamborees. Therefore, how can we not stand for her when issues like this are in the front burner.

“The NPA branch of MWUN and the entire workforce have looked at this matter and we are condemning that action.

“If it’s politically motivated well, we don’t know but the story everywhere is about her and she is the MD of NPA and not because she is Hadiza Bala Usman.

“This is something that affects us and the people involved should know that we are not pleased with their actions.

“I am not a politician and I don’t want to be one tomorrow but what we are saying is that what is condemnable is condemnable and what is wrong is wrong.

“This is purely embarrassment and intimidation on our leader and we cannot fold our hands when things are not done the right way.

“And we will stand by our MD Hadiza Bala Usman.”

Reacting on the position of the unions on the controversies rocking Secure Anchorage Area SAA, Comrade Mazeli maintained that policies are made by the government to favour and disfavour groups or individuals adding that criticism must come up with facts, reasons and evidence.

He argued that “If we as a union have reasons to support for or against on the secure Anchorage then we will make our position known very soon because we will come out with facts.

” The union is studying the issue of secure anchorage critically because it’s raising a whole lot of dust at the moment and we will take a position on this at the right time but what we are saying is that we should separate issues from individuals.

Comrade Mazeli who bagged two leadership awards at the National Secretariat of the union promised to engage the management of issues bothering on junior workers of NPA