The President of Nigerian Association of Stevedoring Companies (NASC) ; Mr Bolaji Sunmola has given an insight into the quantum of money involved in the dispute between the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the International Oil Companies (IOCs).
In a telephone chat with our correspondent over the weekend, he disclosed that International Oil Companies operating in Nigeria owe both the dockworkers and Federal Government money running into billions of Naira.
Sunmola hinted that the money owed by the IOCs is not just for dock workers, but that the IOCs also owe the Federal government of Nigeria.
Recall that the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) had two weeks ago went on strike after the expiration of a two-week ultimatum given to the Federal Government by the union to compel IOCs in the country to pay wages owed dockworkers and the stevedoring companies.
But, the Nigerian Association of Stevedoring Companies President lamented that the IOCs are yet to comply with their side of the bargain, even after the strike was called off.
The President General, MWUN, Mr Adewale Adeyanju, said the IOCs had refused to engage the union on the issue, thereby leaving it with no option than to commence the strike which was later called off.
Sunmola however said two weeks after the strike was called off, the IOCs are yet to still meet up with their side of the bargain.
According to him, “they are still trying to be compliant even though the strike is off, negotiation and discussion is on so that the IOCs can meet their timeline. So it was in sympathy to the nation and economy that the strike was called off, hoping that the IOCs will meet the side of their own bargain as well.
“They do not owe us alone, they owe the government as well because government also has their own collection from all this money, they are owing the government , they are owing the dock workers and this money is running into billions of naira, we are talking of thousands of dock workers here”, he said.
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