From left: Minister of Transport Mu’azu Sambo receives award on quality maritime leadership from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustafa at the Nigerian Ports Authority long service award ceremony held at the weekend in Lagos.

Minister of Transport, Mu’azu Sambohas charged the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA and other agencies under the ministry to always pay priority attention to employees’ welfare, saying thatorganisations that want to create and sustain superior performance must put their human capital first and above other matters.

Speaking at the 2022 edition of the Long Service/Merit Award of the NPA, the Minister assured that the ministry under his watch would always encourage and support initiatives that would boost the welfare of the workers.

While congratulating the awardees and the entire workers of the NPA for their teamwork and contributions to the successes being recorded, noted that the decision to celebrate the workers demonstrates that the Managing Director and his team understand that organisations that want to create and sustain superior performance must put people first.

“Let me pledge to you all that the ministry under my watch will continue to provide unflinching support for all initiatives of the authority’s management geared towards promoting staff welfare.

“As someone that loves to identify with human virtues, I was highly elated when I received the invitation from the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority to be part of this noble effort.

“Today, we celebrate employees who have dedicated twenty years of their lives to the service of Nigeria through the Authority for twenty years and those in the merit category who have accomplished exceptional feats through uncommon dutifulness,” he said.

Sambo recalled that he had during his maiden visit to NPA, he commended the Managing Director for his performance and was glad that he had not relented in his efforts, especially in the aspect of staff welfare. The Minister said: “In my maiden visit to the Authority upon appointment as Minister of Transport whilst, I had commended the Managing Director for the unprecedented performance in revenue generation and remittance.

“He had solicited my backing and support to fast track the processes and procedures necessary for the implementation of staff salary increase which I immediately acceded to, and today I am delighted it has been achieved.

“The celebration demonstrates that the Managing Director and his team understand that organisations that want to create and sustain superior performance must put people first.

The event was graced by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner of Transport, Dr Frederick Oladeinde, Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of State for Health, Ekumankama Joseph Nkama, Minister of State for Transport, Prince Ademola Adegoroye among others.

A high point of the event was the presentation of awards to the President Muhammadu Buhari, the SGF, and the award of recognition for quality maritime leadership to Minister of Transport, Sambo.