We will apply international standards in handling ships and cargoes- NPA boss

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, said the Authority would apply international standards and best practices in handling ships and cargoes at the country’s seaports.

General Manager, Corporate & Strategic Communications, NPA, Mr Olaseni Alakija, who quoted the NPA Managing Director in his remark while addressing members of the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation led by Senator Theodore Orji, on an oversight visit to the NPA said, “the Authority has created an enabling environment for a well-structured inter-modal system for seamless connectivity of the waterways, rail and road transportation.”

This, he said, would foster improved service delivery as well as increase the country’s revenue.

He noted that the various reforms introduced by the Federal Government had a positive impact on productivity at the ports.

He said the dividends were evident in the areas of reduced cargo dwelling time, improvement in cargo throughput, ship turn-around time and a drastic reduction in security incidents within and around the ports.

“There is a need for better synergy with Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other agencies of government involved in the examination and clearance of cargo, to drive efficiency in Port operations,” he said.

While expressing the appreciation of the Authority to the lawmakers for their visit, Bello-Koko assured that the NPA would work tirelessly to ensure the sustenance of service excellence across the nation’s ports.

He solicited the intervention of the Committee on efforts to end the perennial traffic gridlock plaguing vehicular activities along the port access roads.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Theodore Orji stated that the Committee would collaborate with the management of the NPA with the view to resolve all bottlenecks at the ports.

In a separate development, NPA has released new guidelines for the career progression of its staff.

The new guidelines were contained in an internal memorandum dated 12th July 2021 titled ‘Review of Career Progression, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent.

The memo, according to a source is aimed at addressing complaints of stagnation on the same Grade Level by workers of the authority.

“Management has observed with concern the agitations generated by the conduct of the late review of career progression of some employees in the Authority.

“To address some of the issues raised, a further review has been conducted and as a result, the criteria as stated in the previous Circular Ref. HQ/P&A/CON/ 1/1223 dated 18th September 2019 has been amended as indicated below.

“Employees who have stagnated for six (6) years and above as of 1st February 2006 should be granted One Grade level placement.

“Employees who have stagnated for five (5) years the post-concession exercise of 2006 should be granted one incremental placement.

“Accordingly, the eligibility period (cut-off date) of the above shall be from 1st February 2006 – 1st June 2007. The effective date of the career progression is now 16th July 2019.

“Furthermore, for the purpose of clarity, it is pertinent to state that employees who are within the under listed categories even if they fall within the cut-off date will not be eligible for the review,” the memo reads.