By Kenneth Jukpor
Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has struck a partnership with Maritime Worker’s Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to enhance the regulation of trucks at Nigerian seaports, dry ports and jetties, at a proposed cost of N3,000 per truck.
Both groups signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the MWUN headquarters in Lagos yesterday, even as they expressed optimism that the new partnership would positively impact the nation’s maritime industry and enhance the welfare of truck drivers.
The terms of reference for the partnership include establishing the presence of MWUN and NARTO in all dry ports, seaports and jetties, create and prioritize a driver/dockworkers welfare, develop an organogram for smooth running of the team, generate revenue via ticketing rates at N3000 per truck and attain a sharing formula across all the affected states of the federation.
According to the associations, this collaboration would curb the indiscriminate parking of trucks on the port access roads, provide insurance for truck drivers, educate and enlighten the drivers on the best practices with regards to safety.
The new group also stated that it will be looking at engaging the Lagos State government to find out if certain portions of land could be provided for truck garages.
Speaking on the possibility of a backlash with the additional cost of N3,000 per truck, the President-General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju said the sum could be reviewed downward by the Board of Trustees.
According to Adeyanju, the N3,000 per truck levy is only a proposal by a 12-man committee of NARTO and MWUN which developed the terms of reference for the merger and the document could be rejigged by the group’s BoT.
His words: “The partnership with NARTO isn’t in anyway intended to add to the cost of doing business at the ports. The N3,000 per truck is just a recommendation by the committee by the BoT will review downwards. We wouldn’t allow anything that would indicate to stakeholders that this partnership is to extort them. The main priority of this merger is to protect the welfare of truck drivers.”
Adeyanju assured that there would be wide engagements and sensitization to get more stakeholders, especially truck drivers onboard with the new collaboration and the benefits for the sector.
Speaking earlier, the President of NARTO, Alhaji Lawal Yusuf Othman express satisfaction with the new partnership, even as stated that both unions could learn from each other.
Othman said; “I heard about the robust relationship between MWUN and NARTO in Lagos and the entire Western zone. I’m delighted at the positive reports. With this MoU, we are solidifying our relationship. We are friends and partners in business and I’m sure that we can benefit a lot from this collaboration, even as the maritime sector, truck drivers and the nation will be better as a result of this merger”
