By Uzor Odigbo
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and Stevedoring Companies have described Lagos Area severance payment for disengaged tally clerks and on-board security men as the most “Peaceful ” in the history of dock labour exercise in the country.
The union and contractors who were in attendance for over a week during the payment exercise in Lagos, further explained that there was less challenges in the process and payment was devoid of violence against previous exercises.
Speaking at the end of the Lagos Area payment exercise,President General of MWUN,Comrade Adewale Adeyanju on Wednesday, said the union has been vindicated from the alleged scam leveled against it.
Adeyanju said some of disengaged dockworkers apologized to the union leaders because of the communication gap adding that the approval was made possible by the Ministry of Transportation onward to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
He said the four hundred thousand naira payment for disengaged dockworkers emanated from the ministry down to NPA and was unconnected to any form of scam.
“Remember in 2006, nobody can gain entrance into the NPA sport complex in Bode Thomas for similar exercise because there was violence everywhere and the security personnel on ground were over one hundred.
“Now for this exercise I can tell you that no security personnel is here to protect the affected workers and there is no form of violence from anybody in respect to the payment and so I am vindicated.
The Union boss further disclosed that the exercise will move to the eastern ports which is expected to commence next week.
According to him , the only hiccup experienced during the exercise has to do with death of some workers, which in turn led to next of kin participation for payment to be made.
Adeyanju stated that executives of the union were on ground from December 30, 2019 when payment started up to January 8 2019 when it ended in Lagos.
However, he further reiterated the union commitment to workers welfare and packages.
Also speaking, President of Nigerian Association of Stevedoring Companies, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola commended the MWUN for the key role played during the payment exercise.
Sunmola debunked insinuations over issues bothering on scam allegations leveled against the union and NPA.
He stressed that the exercise was opened to the affected workers adding that there are bound to be black sheep in any for gathering of people.
The President also said that the exercise was peaceful and successful
Dockworkers payment ends in Lagos, as stakeholders hail peaceful exercise
L-R: President of the National Association of Stevedoring Companies, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, Chairman National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) and Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, NIMASA, Mr. Gambo Ahmed, President General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju and Director, Maritime Labour Services Department of NIMASA, Mr. Ibrahim Jibril during the signing ceremony of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for Dock Labour by the NJIC in Lagos.