Organised labour and maritime operators have raised concerns over growing security and revenue-leakage risks at Nigerian seaports, calling for the immediate reinstatement of tally clerks and on-board gangway security men.

Speaking during the Dockworkers’ Day celebration in Lagos, Francis Bunu, President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), warned that the absence of these workers has created a serious security gap, especially amid rising insecurity nationwide.

Tally clerks are responsible for physically counting, verifying, and documenting cargo loaded onto or discharged from ships, trucks, or containers. They reconcile actual cargo movements against ship manifests and waybills to ensure accurate tonnage declaration and prevent smuggling or revenue loss. Often described as the “eyes of government at the ports,” tally clerks are crucial in detecting under-declared cargo and other abuses.

On-board gangway security men provide security at vessel gangways to prevent unauthorised boarding, stowaways, cargo theft, and ensure compliance with port security regulations. Without these personnel, stakeholders argue that illicit cargoes, under-declared tonnage, and revenue leakages are more likely.

Reports indicate that approximately 3,700 tally clerks and gangway security men were disengaged from ports in 2015 during a reform exercise by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). The contracts of the stevedoring companies that employed them were not renewed after December 2015, leading to concerns about worker welfare, unpaid benefits, and the loss of institutional oversight in port operations.

Beyond reinstating these roles, MWUN also demanded improvements in dockworkers’ welfare, including enhanced remuneration, allowances, uniform conditions of service, and standard employment practices, as well as the establishment of a national task force to enforce safety and operational regulations across all port terminals and oil-platform operations.

Speaking in support, maritime industry stakeholders noted that the absence of tally clerks has severely affected port operations. “The ports urgently need the services of tally clerks and on-board gangway security men. The government should do all that is possible to ensure their prompt return,” said Sunmola, an industry representative.

Representing the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), stressed that safety is non-negotiable and called for collaboration between operators and organised labour to ensure a secure maritime environment.

The call for reinstatement highlights ongoing concerns that security gaps at the nation’s ports threaten both revenue collection and national security, making urgent reforms critical for the maritime sector.