By Eberechi Obinagwam
The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC has backed it’s affiliate, Maritime Workers Union, (MWUN) to issue a two weeks ultimatum to the federal government through the Ministries of Transportation and Labour over it’s refusal to pay all monthly entitlements of seaferers in the sector with the effect from Monday, March 6, 2023.
NLC president, Ajaero while directing the union to issue a two week ultimatum to the federal government clearly stated that if in the next two weeks they refuses to pay all monthly entitlements of seaferers, NLC will back the union in shutting down the sector.
Ajaero, while he was told by the MWUN president, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju that the union had written to the Ministry of Labour since August 2021, but nothing had been done at his courtesy visit to their head office, Apapa, Lagos as part of his tours to affiliate unions expressed displeasure over government’s refusal to pay seaferes while refusing to engage the labour in negotiations.
He said: “this is unheard-of, that the Union had written to government to pay the seafarers since 2021 and three years down the line, the payment has not been made. I think the only solution now is for the union to speak the language government can hear which is a solidarity movement.
You wrote to the minister of transportation since August 2021 and 2022 came and passed and we are approaching August 2023 and nothing has been done. Nobody will accuse you of not being patient,”
He however, ordered the Maritime Workers Union president, Adeyanju, who is also the vice president of Nigerian Labour Congress to issue a two weeks ultimatum and get back to them if they need any other support.
According to him, “Nobody should toil with the interest of Maritime Workers because they contribute largely to the nations economy. Workers are not orphans, they have a father. If they are not responding shutdown the wolf and seaports in the country and let the ministry concerned do their work. We are ready to give you a solidarity support since the Ministry has refused to respond. Every illegal act requires an illegal action. What the law requires is a two weeks notice but, when the matter proceed, what should the workers do? Actions and we are ready to take that actions because it seems it is the only language that the government understands. We shutdown Abia State over the issue of unpaid salaries for almost twenty months and they start calling us, we will also shutdown this sector if they fail to pay all the monthly entitlements of seaferers. If possible, issue them two weeks ultimatum from today so that we will know our next line of action. I don’t have sympathy with anyone that is toiling with the interest of our workers,”
MWUN president, Adeyanju upon receiving the order, issued the two weeks ultimatum with effect form Monday March 6, stating that the union was waiting for the signature of the national body to embark on the long-awaited action.
Earlier, comrade Adeyanju while reading out the challenges of the union to NLC president, explained that the International Oil Companies (IOCs) refused to obey government Marine Notice of 2014 and Extant Stevedoring Regulations and the resfusal to pay aged seafarers monthly pension inspite of court ruling, stressing that the issue has lingered for too long.
He also tabled the restoration of registered onboard ship gangway security and tally men, stating that their operation in port is statutory, the need to awaken the dredging of Calabar, Warri, and Portharcourt ports, and ensuring that a minimum standard condition of service is put in place for their members in the shipping sector as part of the union’s challenges.
