The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman, has pledged management commitment to improve on its tradition of transparent and excellent service that would make the nation’s ports the hub in the sub-region.
Bala-Usman made the pledge during the 2017/2018 Long Service/Merit award dinner ceremony of NPA held in Lagos on Saturday night.
According to her, this management of the Nigerian Ports Authority is committed to not just changing the ways things are done momentarily but in bequeathing a tradition of transparent and excellent service.
She said that positive performance of workforce would make the nation ports the hub in West and Central Africa.
Bala-Usman said that the management had decided to recognise the labour of some of the staff members, which come from their determination to register the premium that the management placed on staff contributions to the development of NPA
“We understand that the workforce is an integral part of whatever good stories we would be able to achieve and tell about our initiatives, hence the determination to periodically show appreciation to the dedicated staff.
“Tonight, therefore, we are gathered here to honour our long – serving and dedicated employees of 25 years upwards and at the same time celebrate those who have demonstrated excellence by achieving uncommon feats in the course of duty.
“Beyond these regular recognitions of serving and retiring staff members, management considers encouraging a well-motivated workforce with the requisite character, competence, and capacity to optimize our rich maritime endowments.
“This is part of the dreams of building a new culture in the authority,” Bala-Usman said.
She said that without motivated workforce the sustainability of the reforms we have undertaken so far, as well the audacious goals poised to achieved as enunciated in the 25-year Port Development Plan would remain unattainable.
The NPA boss said that achieving the development plan informed the recent thorough review of NPA condition of service with robust provisions aimed at equipping our employees to be best-in-class in the Industry.
She said that the authority had also worked towards correcting all the previous anomalies in the salary structure as we are ensuring justice in the career progression of personnel.
“We are taking the totality of the wellbeing of personnel seriously.
“As we consider the need to train and retrain towards building capacity to cope with the dynamism of our industry, we have also been paying attention to the health and mental needs of our staff.
“The goal is to be a competent and committed workforce to our collective interests.
“Our drive towards attaining the Occupational Health and Safety Standards (OHSAS 18001) and ISO 9002 compliance status – the core of which is the enhancement of the workers’ well-being is in top gear,” Bala-Usman said.
She said that the management would not rest on its oars until it achieved the hub in the sub-region.
Bala-Usman pledged to continue to strive to improve the relationship between management and staff and inculcate a sense of ownership to every staff member and bring NPA’s dreams to fruition.
She, however, congratulated all the awardees, adding she was optimistic that this event would encourage all colleagues to strive for excellence.
Bala-Usman also assured the staff members on behalf of the board and management of better days ahead in the service of the Nigerian Ports Authority.
Both the awardees and those that disengaged from the service thanked the management and urged the other staff members to put in their best at all times.
