Barring last-minute intervention from the Federal Government, the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), at the weekend, decided to commence industrial action from March 1. President-general of the union, Adewale Adeyemi, speaking after the union’s meeting with the executive secretary/CEO of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Emmanuel Jime, in Lagos, said the industrial action, which will lead to disruption of port activities, is to protest the refusal of international oil companies (IOCs) to allow approved stevedoring companies access to their platforms to commence operations, and denying registered dockworkers and stevedoring companies access to operate on platforms as required by law.
According to the labour leader, it is inconceivable that the IOCs, despite the intervention by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, have refused to appoint stevedoring companies and accredited dockworkers to work on oil platforms.
He said, “The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria of today is a union that has this country in its heart; Nigeria first before any other thing. We believe in this country, it may not be better now, but we have belief that it is going to be better when all of us put our heads together.
This comes despite appeals to the union leaders ‘not to deviate from the path of peace and industrial harmony the union has cultivated over the years’.
MWUN, the umbrella body of port workers in the country, had in February threatened to shut port operations nationwide, over alleged refusal of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) to allow the stevedoring companies and their workers (who are members of the union) access their platforms, thus denying them wage earning opportunities as provided by law.
