By Uzor Odigbo
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has condemned in strong terms, the practice of keeping casual workers by some employers.
This position advanced at the annual National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting on Friday in Lagos harped on the need to raise employees standards in the sector and pay them their due entitlements adequately.
The union has also repositioned itself to engage in Importation, export and haulage businesses as a way of expanding it’s revenue base.
President General of NWUN, Comrade Prince Adeyanju Adewale in his address, said that the union’s duty is to give a voice to the voiceless, bridge inequalities and enlarge grounds for member’s participation in improving their conditions of service, work environment among others, while also focusing on building solidarity and ideals to match its essential goals and aspirations.
Adeyanju said the union has initiated talks on payment of pensions to aged seafarers with the concerned authorities, embarked on a vigorous membership drive, training and retraining of officials, promote gender equality, initiated the process of collaborating with government of riverine states, establishment of a trust fund scheme and many more programmes for workers benefits
Despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, in a year he described as filled with “ups and downs”, the union was able to achieve the following:
Renovated the national secretariat to a befitting standard, built a functioning website, initiated action to rebuild the annex secretariat, improved welfare of union employee, negotiated and concluded final payment of severance package to Tally Clerks and on-board ship security gangway men in all ports and jetties.
“We are in collaboration with other unions and association within the maritime sector to form Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Association (COMTUA). The aim of this council is to work in synergy with other stakeholders in the maritime sector to address the gridlock on the Lagos port access roads.
“Part of our goal is to better the lots of our members and employees. We have registered a cooperative society known as maritime workers union multipurpose society which is already in operation.
“Also, as part of desire to diversify our union’s revenue base, we have gotten license to move into import/export business. We have equally obtained license to commence haulage business for which the union has bought two trucks”, he added.
The president general decried the casualisation of workers which has become the norm in Nigeria, describing it as a disease that is inimical to the well being of any worker.
“Casualisation in whatever guise is evil and diminishes the right of working people. We call on the government to outlaw and forbid the use of workers as casuals, while prescribing jail terms for anyone found practicing casualisation”, he said.
The Union also noted that the Shipping Industry houses some of the worst employers of labour, whose pay packages are very poor and subjects its employees to dehumanising practices. Though it has taken steps of its own, the union asked the federal government to quickly call the erring shipping companies to order and make them obey the nation’s labour laws as they affect minimum wage.
“The situation where an employee will be forced to stay on one salary scale for over 20 years is not only callous but intolerable and will no longer be acceptable. Even more appalling is their penchant for outsourcing jobs.
We wish to use this medium to put the general public on notice that the union will no longer tolerate these anomalies and will not hesitate to declare industrial unrest in the Nigerian shipping industry”, PG Adeyanju warned.
MWUN also pleaded with the government to help solve the incessant gridlock on Lagos ports access roads as it is affecting business; dredge the Calabar port to create employment opportunities and also expand the facilities and capacities of all Nigerian Ports in order to ease congestion in the Lagos port.
The immediate past president general of MWUN, now PG emeritus, comrade Anthony Inted Emmanuel commended the incumbent PG for his efforts in making sure that maritime workers are duly rewarded for their role in building Nigeria’s economy and also applauded the cooperative society initiative. He however noted that there is room for improvement, while assuring the union of his continuous support and service when the need arises.
He was presented with the Achievers Award for Labour Leader of the Decade, courtesy of Shipping World Magazine.
Dr. Bashir Jamoh, DG, NIMASA, who was represented by Victor Ochie, Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, assured the union of NIMASA’s continued support and the issuance of biometric identification cards in due course.
General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, comrade Emmanuel Ugbuaja who represented the president, appreciated the role of maritime workers in the NLC, stating that the congress will always be at their corner. He also praised the union for never trying to shut down the economy even though they have the power and numbers to do so, stressing that social dialogue is the way forward to effect the needed change.
“You don’t get unions stronger or articulate than that of the maritime because of the education and training of its members, both locally and internationally”, he praised the union.
The Managing Director, NPA, Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman, represented by Mr. Haruna Sunday expressed satisfaction with the relationship that exists between the two parties. She promised to quickly look into the issues raised by the union where it concerns the NPA.
Also present, is the African Regional Secretary, International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), Sofiyanu Mohammed, who commended the leadership of the union for judiciously using the COVID-19 materials provided by the ITF to prevent the spread of the virus amongst maritime practitioners through the counterpart grant support.
He reassured the union of ITF’s continued assistance, just like it is already doing with the Maritime Affiliate Support (Africa) Project for Nigerian Seafarers, set to run for 15 months. The project seeks to improve ITF Agreement coverage in Africa and to improve the employment opportunities for local seafarers at international level.
PG Adeyanju thanked the Minister of State and the Permanent Secretary – Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment; MD, Nigerian Ports Authority; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport, DG, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council; MD, National Inland Waterways Authority; Registrar of Trade Unions and the President/General Secretary; Nigeria Labour congress for their support.
He also thanked other maritime stakeholders and employers for their roles, stating that their passion has helped to unite and create the energy which allows the union members to achieve individual and group goals.