Business
Job Loss Fears Grip MWUN Over Port Automation
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has expressed worries over automation of port services, saying members might be forced to suffer job losses if not carried along in human capacity building for workers.
Deputy President General (DPG), MWUN, Comrade Harry Tonye, who disclosed this recently at the 3rd JournalNG Port Industry Town Hall meeting held in Lagos, expressed concerns that the rapid introduction of technology and innovations in the maritime domain would lead to job losses.
He advised the relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that such technological advancement aren’t at the expense of maritime workers.
The DPG, who harped on upskilling of workers in the four components of the union, expressed doubts about job sustainability when the ports would be fully automated, noting that the union is open for discussion on the need to train workers to enable them fulfill modern trends in port operations.
According to him, employers of labour in the port community should focus on manpower and human capacity development in line with international best practices, stressing that shipping line agencies, terminal operators and government agencies like the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have not been able to build capacity of workers to meet up with the dynamism of the automation system in port operations.
Tonye reiterated that port automation in line with the mandate of the blue economy is a guise to reduce the workforce by contract and outsourcing to few individuals at the detriment of maritime workers.
He stated that sustainability and job security is of utmost importance in order to maintain harmony in the industry.
According to him, “We have been talking about automation, and as good as automation is, it also has its own disadvantages. One of such disadvantages is that it is going to affect a lot of workers in the maritime space.
“MWUN is a major stakeholder in the maritime industry. Therefore we look at automation as a guise to reduce the workforce. That is why we are looking at automation as a good thing, and we are also looking at it from the other way as a process to take the job that is supposed to be done by human beings”.
Tonye recalled that the port concession of 2006 affected members of the dockworkers branch of MWUN which in turn led to total reduction of labour employees in the industry.
He also noted that the concerns of the union is based on protection of workers’ job, adding that technology is mostly acceptable by the service providers but that the workers will also key into the technological advancement to protect jobs of Nigerians through capacity building for them.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
Edun made the call while speaking at the 2025 Fellowship Investiture of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Lagos, where he reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to sustaining ongoing reforms and expanding access to finance as key drivers of economic growth beyond four per cent.
“We all know that monetary policy under Cardoso has stabilised the financial system in a most commendable way. Of course, it is a team effort, and those eye-watering interest rates have to be paid by the fiscal side. But the fight against inflation is one we all have to participate in,” he said.
The minister stressed the need for banks to broaden credit access and finance innovation-driven enterprises that can create jobs for young Nigerians.
“The finance and banking industry has more work to do because we must finance their ideas, deepen the capital and credit markets down to SMEs. They should not have to go to Silicon Valley,” he said.
The minister who described the private sector as the engine of growth, said the government’s reform agenda aims to create an enabling environment where businesses can thrive, access funding, and contribute meaningfully to job creation.
The facility, known as the Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration (P512892), is a Development Policy Financing (DPF) operation scheduled for World Bank Board consideration on December 16, 2025.
According to the Bank’s concept note , the financing would comprise $500m in International Development Association (IDA) credit and $500m in International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loan.
If approved, it would be the second-largest single loan Nigeria has received from the World Bank under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, following the $1.5 billion facility granted in June 2024 under the Reforms for Economic Stabilisation to Enable Transformation (RESET) initiative.
The World Bank said the new programme aims to support Nigeria’s shift from short-term macroeconomic stabilisation to sustainable, private sector–led growth.
“The proposed Development Policy Financing (DPF) supports Nigeria’s pivot from stabilization to inclusive growth and job creation. Structured as a two-tranche standalone operation of US$1.0 billion (US$500 million IDA credit and US$500 million IBRD loan), it seeks to catalyse private sector–led investment by expanding access to credit, deepening capital markets and digital services, easing inflationary pressures, and promoting export diversification,” the document read.
The document further stated that Nigeria’s private sector credit-to-GDP ratio stood at only 21.3 per cent in 2024, significantly below that of emerging-market peers, while capital markets remain shallow, with sovereign securities dominating the bond market.
To address these weaknesses, the DPF will support the implementation of the Investment and Securities Act 2025, operationalisation of credit-enhancement facilities, and introduction of a comprehensive Central Bank of Nigeria rulebook to strengthen risk-based regulation and consumer protection.
The operation also includes measures to deepen digital inclusion through the passage of the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2025, which will establish a legal framework for electronic transactions, authentication services, and digital records.
Beyond the financial and digital sectors, the programme targets reforms to lower production and living costs by tackling Nigeria’s restrictive trade regime. High tariffs and import bans have long driven up consumer prices and constrained competitiveness, particularly for manufacturers and farmers.
Under the proposed reforms, Nigeria would adopt AfCFTA tariff concessions, rationalise import restrictions, and simplify agricultural seed certification to increase the supply of high-quality varieties for maize, rice, and soybeans. The World Bank projects that these measures will help reduce food inflation, attract private investment, and enhance export potential.
The operation is part of a broader World Bank FY26 package that includes three complementary projects—Fostering Inclusive Finance for MSMEs (FINCLUDE), Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth (BRIDGE), and Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth (AGROW)—all focused on expanding access to finance, strengthening institutions, and mobilising private capital.