The face-off between the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Governor of Rivers State over last week’s arrest of dockworkers in Port Harcourt heightened on Tuesday as the union insisted on carrying out its national strike, unless the members were released unconditionally.
The 20 dockworkers were arrested by officials of the Rivers State Task Force on COVID-19 on their way from two terminals at Port Harcourt port; that is, BUA and PTOL.
The dockworkers were arrested on the orders of Governor Nyeson Nwike, for allegedly violating the state lockdown on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The MWUN, had on Sunday, in a letter signed by its’s President General; Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, said that it was shocked that the dockworkers were arrested even after showing evidences that they were on essential services, with ‘port passes’ issued by the Nigeria Ports Authourity (NPA).
It was also confirmed that two staff of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were also arrested along with the dockworkers.
The MWUN had in the letter, affirmed that port operations are in the Exclusive List in the Nigerian constitution, under the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Ports Authourity.
It however lamented that, despite this, the dockworkers were arrested. It consequently pleaded that President Buhari and the Minister of Transport; Mr Rotimi Amaechi should prevail on the Governor of Rivers State to release its members.
Shipping Position Daily confirmed yesterday that the embattled dockworkers were arraigned in court after which they were granted bail of N10,000 each, while the bus that was conveying them was impounded.
The stand of the MWUN about the looming strike was confirmed to our correspondent on Tuesday, by its President General; Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, who said what the union wants is unconditional release of the dockworkers, and release of the seized vehicle.
“We insist that the Governor should withdraw the charges because they are not criminals, they are legitimate workers duly engaged by the terminal operators”., he stressed.
The union president general, said the union and its members are not oblivious of the fact the Nigerian economy is already battered by COVID-19, and it is conscious of what a nation-wide strike by the union will cause.
He however insisted that the dockworkers were on essential duty when officials of the Rivers State government arrested them.
He confirmed that the ultimatum given by the MWUN expires on Wednesday(today) and that, if the demand of the union was not met by then, the nation-wide strike will commence
But, there are indications that the dockworkers in Port Harcourt port have refused to go to work since this week.
A cargo owner confirmed this in a WhatsApp message. In the message, he said: “This is to bring to your notice that I met with the dockworkers this morning(yesterday) to prevail on them to resume work in the port, but they insisted on continuing with their down tool based on the non-release of their shuttle bus and non-pronouncement by the Rivers State Government that port operations shall go unhindered without any further arrests”.
He claimed to have a ship load of frozen fish in Port Harcourt port and that the ship may rotten if they are not immediately off-loaded and taken out of the port.
“There is need for immediate intervention to get dock labour to get back to work and offload the cargo and continue work on the other vessels in the port”, he pleaded.
But, there are indications that the matter has already been brought to the attention of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19; Mr Boss Mustapha.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council; Mr Hassan Bello confirmed to our correspondent on Tuesday that efforts were being intensified at the highest levelof government to make the Rivers Governor see why port workers are exempted from the lockdown.
He expressed optimism that the MWUN would be prevailed upon to backpedal on the looming strike.
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