Members of staff of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have expressed delight with the approval of a pay rise by the Federal Government for them.
The Deputy Secretary General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Erazua Oniha, said that the union was that their salaries were reviewed after 18 years.
“The union is particularly very happy about that because it has justified all our fights over the years that the salaries of NPA workers should be increased after 18 years. You know in the last 18 years, no NPA staff salary was increased due to some policies of the government that limited NPA management from increasing salaries until sometime last year when we waded into it through the efforts of the NPA MD and other well-meaning Nigerians and the issue of the review was visited. So, the union is very happy,” he said.
The Minister of Transportation, Sambo Mu’azu Sambo, revealed the decision of the government to review the salaries of NPA staff upward over the weekend at the long service award organised by the management of the authority, Punch reported.
Sambo, who commended the management of the agency for its commitment to staff welfare, singled out the NPA boss, Mohammad Bello-Koko for accolades, for his unprecedented performance in revenue generation and remittance
“In my maiden visit to NPA upon resumption of office as minister of transportation, I was commending the NPA MD for his unprecedented performance in revenue generation and remittance. He has solicited my backing and support to fast track the processes and procedures for the implementation of salary increase, which I immediately acceded to and today, I am delighted that it has been achieved.”
Sambo, however, congratulated the awardees and the entire staff of NPA for their commitment.
“Let me also tell you that the ministry under my watch will continue to provide everything possible for the welfare of the staff of the ministry.”
Earlier, Bello-Koko thanked the Federal Government for the increment in staff salaries.
“We will like to use this opportunity to appreciate everyone here for their support towards the delivery of salary increase for our dedicated staff,” he stated.
He added that equipping the human capital resource to be the best has been one of the overriding objectives of the management of NPA, adding that the agency would make a good move in this cause.
“Our drive towards ensuring 100 per cent occupational health and safety for our staff which has resulted in ISO certification of Calabar and Onne ports is relentless and we are not relenting on it,” He asserted.