The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has suspended its one-day old strike, giving way to resumption of ports’ activities on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that activities in all the ports were at a standstill on Wednesday.
NAN reports that the union protested over a plan by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to do away with the services of the tally clerks and on-board security men.
The President of the Seafarers’ Group, Mr Francis Bunu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the strike had been suspended.
He said the union held a close-door meeting with the management of NPA late on Wednesday to discuss the issues that led to the strike.
“We held a meeting with NPA yesterday and we hope for a fruitful outcome.
“We have only suspended the strike pending the outcome of our requests before the NPA,’’ Bunu said.
Mr Musa Iliya, the Assistant-General Manager, Public Affairs of the NPA, told NAN that negotiations were still on with the workers.
He said the NPA management had decided to address the issues conclusively to avoid a reoccurrence of such action.
“The management of the Nigerian Ports Authority held talks with the maritime workers union yesterday and hope to address the issues raised.
“The management wants to ensure that this is handled thoroughly, to avoid this kind of situation again, ‘’ Iliya said.
NAN reports that the dockworkers embarked on strike on Wednesday after the union gave the NPA a 21-day ultimatum to address issues affecting its members.
The National President of the Dockworkers, Mr Adeyanju Adewale, had told NAN that the strike action resulted from issues concerning non-payment of the union members and the welfare of the NPA staff.
The union also said that the NPA had planned to lay off do away onboard tally clerks and security from their jobs and had failed to pay their salaries in the last six months.
Bunu had warned that the Federal Government should look into the matter to avoid a total shutdown of the nation’s ports by the striking dock workers.
He advised government to leverage on the potential of the maritime industry to create employment and sustain the nation’s economy.
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