Guardian

• Threaten to shut ports

MARITIME workers have petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan over alleged violation of laws by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited and its refusal to pay statutory levies.

And barring quick intervention by Mr. President, the workers, under the aegis of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), may embark on industrial action, closing all ports across the country in the next three weeks.

In an open letter read in Lagos, the union drew the attention of President Jonathan to the lingering face-off between their regulatory agency - Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and NLNG, over the latter’s refusal to pay levies mandated by the law of the land.

Addressing the workers at Apapa port, President General of the Union, Emmanuel Nted, noted that NLNG had violated the law that established NIMASA (NIMASA Act 2007) and its section 15, which stipulated that the agency shall be funded by “three per cent of gross freight on all international inbound and outbound cargoes from ships or shipping companies operating in Nigeria.”

He observed that NIMASA was the only agency of government saddled with maritime labour issues in Nigeria, particularly as regards the training of Seafarers and Dockworkers.

“It is, therefore, in this respect that we are particularly surprised to learn of the flagrant refusal of the NLNG to pay the statutory levies due to the government on it’s shipping activities as well as the two per cent on its cabotage activities in Nigeria’s coastal waters.

“The said refusal by the NLNG to pay the accumulated three per cent gross freight on its business activities from its inception in 1989 to date has drastically reduced the revenue available to NIMASA and in turn undermined its ability to carry out its operations, perform its statutory responsibilities and in particular compromised its ability to meet its core functions with respect to maritime labour issues in Nigeria,” Nted said.

He stressed that NLNG as a foreign company - 59 per cent foreign-owned and 41 per cent Nigerian - must be subjected to the laws of Nigeria being its host country.

While the NLNG might argue that it had a 10 years tax rebate agreement with the Nigerian government, Nted said it was pertinent for the government to note that the agreement lapsed about four years ago.

“And if the agreement has been extended, government must find out who extended it and when. It is right for the Federal Government to quickly wade into this crisis; compel the NLNG to pay NIMASA without delay, all accumulated three per cent levies on gross freight and two per cent surcharge due on its cabotage contracts to NIMASA within 21 days, failing which our Union may be compelled to shut down all the ports in the Federation,” he said.

Secretary General of the union, Aham Ubani, added that continuous refusal of NLNG to meet its statutory responsibility with respect to payment of taxes and levies due for its operation poses danger to the workers welfare, coupled with negative precedent it would set among other companies operation in the industry.