- Unions should consult widely before strike actions
- APFFLON rejigs Tin Can chapter leadership
Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has lamented that freight forwarders and importers lose huge sums as demurrage and storage charges following Labour unions strike actions.
The National President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, stated this during a press conference to restructure the Tin Can Island Port chapter leadership with the former Tin Can Chairman, Mr. Emeka Nwosu redeployed to the National Secretariat as Business and Commerce Development official.
Ogunojemite argued that strike actions usually crippled seaport and airfreight activities, however, freight forwarders and their importers are held liable for the storage charges and demurrage accrued during the strike.
His words: “APFFLON is not ignorant of the excruciating pains and hardships the fuel subsidy removal has brought upon Nigerians. Nevertheless, we also know the negative sides of shutting down the nation’s economy, that is the reason why the leaderships of the labour unions should reconsider their stance and suspend the strike in the interest of the nation.”
“APFFLON is of opinion that the industrial action could worsen the present economic realities as individual businesses would be grounded. People are passing through very tough times, we would want the labour unions to give Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration benefit of the doubt and watch if it would not expedite actions towards ameliorating the sufferings of Nigerians. We want to see actions marched by words, obviously, Nigerians have lost confidence in their leaders because of their insincerity, greed and sheer lack of will power to do the right things.”
The group stressed that in the maritime and aviation sectors, delays in clearance of cargoes attract penalties in form of demurrage, therefore it argued that the NLC hasn’t been able to proffer any assistance or consider this impediment.
“It is also instructive to note that the NLC has never invited freight forwarders to know some of the challenges they face at the ports on daily basis so why should their decisions affect all the sectors of the economy. APFFLON would want to remind them of the need to always engage other sectors before taking decisions that affect all and sundry.”
“The skyrocketing prices of commodities and continuous emasculation of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is a big threat to the livelihoods of many families . But if we should look into who and who are affected by the strike action by Labour, it will not be out of place to point out that those who are not in the employ of governments are coopted to join the strike,” the APFFLON President said.
He, however, appreciated the leadership of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) for approaching the industrial action from a different perspective without disrupting port activities.
Following the restructuring of the APFFLON leadership, Alhaji Akeem Ayobiojo was appointed as Tin Can Chairman; Mr. Jubril Usman as Vice Chairman, Tin Can; Fwdr. Rasheed Tijani as Secretary, Tin Can; and Mrs. Busayo Okpara was also appointed Welfare Officer for the national secretariat.
