The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has promoted 1,500 employees, marking a significant step towards resolving years of promotion stagnation and improving staff morale. The announcement was made on Wednesday in Lagos via a statement signed by the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara.
NPA’s Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, stated that the promotion exercise reflects the Authority’s renewed focus on human capital development, which he described as essential for building and sustaining high performance.
Dr. Dantsoho made these remarks after receiving commendations from the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC). Both unions praised the NPA for resolving the longstanding issue of delayed promotions that had previously fuelled worker dissatisfaction.
“Developing internal talent is crucial to achieving the ambitious goals we have set, particularly in enhancing port competitiveness,” Dantsoho said. “The only way we can meet, and even exceed, stakeholder expectations is by deepening the competencies of our workforce and boosting their morale.”
Dantsoho expressed appreciation to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic plan proposed by NPA management. He said the plan has provided a lasting solution to over a decade of employee stagnation that previously led to industrial unrest.
“I must specially thank our minister for approving the multi-faceted strategy we adopted, which cleared all outstanding cases of promotion backlog through comprehensive examinations and introduced measures to prevent future occurrences,” he added.
He also noted that as NPA continues to modernise its port infrastructure and equipment, staff welfare remains a parallel priority.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, SSASCGOC President Comrade Akinola Bodunde applauded the NPA management for not only clearing the promotion backlog but also enhancing productivity bonuses and year-end welfare packages.
“We appreciate the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now better addresses our members’ concerns regarding inflationary pressures,” Bodunde said.
Stakeholders view the promotion exercise as a major step towards industrial harmony and employee satisfaction across the Authority.
