Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) may shut down the nation’s seaports and terminals this week, following the expiration of the two weeks ultimatum given to the Federal Government to resolve the lingering issues with operators and government agencies in the sector, Shipping Position Daily has gathered.
Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero had directed the MWUN to shut down Nigeria’s ports and terminals during a courtesy visit to the union about two weeks ago
Ajaero directed MWUN to write the Ministry of Labour as well as Ministry of Transportation and to issue two weeks ultimatum over the myriads of issues bedevilling the maritime sector. He had threatened failure to take action, the labour union would shut down the industry.
The MWUN had explained to the visiting NLC President that the International Oil Companies (IOCs) refused to obey the government Marine Notice of 2014 and Extant Stevedoring Regulations.
Following the expiration of the two weeks ultimatum, the President General of MWUN Comrade Adewale Adeyanju in an exclusive chat with our correspondent last weekend disclosed that the National Administrative Council of the union will be meeting on Monday (today) to review the ultimatum issued while stating that the ultimatum still stands.
Adeyanju informed that the Ministry of Transportation has responded to the strike notice by directing the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to wade into the matter that involves the shipping branch of the union.
He however noted that activities of the players in the other three branches of the union (Dock Workers, Seafarers and the NPA) need to be reviewed to determine whether or not the union will down-tool or not. He said the union will take a decision on this on Monday.
He told our correspondent that: “We are going to meet next week to review the ultimatum that we have issued to the Ministry of Transportation on the directive of the NLC President who came to pay us a courtesy visit and the Ministry of Transportation has directed the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to wade into the matters that involve shipping because we have four branches that are having a lot of challenges on labour disputes and that’s why we issued the ultimatum.
“One of them invited us last week; that is the NSC. The council mediated on the issue of employment problems in the shipping industry. The other ones we are reviewing on Monday when we are going to meet with our NAC, so that we can look at the other branches that have not been meeting up with our demands.
“So the ultimatum still stands, but you know you will review the ultimatum and look at the area that they’ve complied and the areas the management has invited us.
“We will review properly and by Monday or Tuesday we will make a decision,” he said.
Recall also that Comrade Adewale Adeyanju had earlier this year in a chat with our correspondent stated that year 2023 will no longer be about threats, but actions against non-compliant agencies, terminal operators or International Oil Companies that refuse to comply with the demands of the union.
Adeyanju in a chat with our correspondent in January stated that the union halted the plans to go on strike in 2022 owing to the peculiarity of the ports to the nation’s economy.
He had threatened that 2023 will no longer be about threats, but actions against any government agencies or terminal operators.
shippingposition
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