NPA, SSASGOC honour outgoing MWUN President General, Adeyanju

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Senior Staff Association of Statiutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASGOC) have praised the outgoing President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju for his impactful leadership and transformative contributions to the union over the past eight years.

Adeyanju, who is completing his second four-year term in March 2025, was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021.

He is set to hand over leadership to his successor on March 28th, after the union’s delegate conference.

President of SSASGOC, Akinola Bodunde led a delegation including the Port Managers of Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port as well as Assistant General Manager, Employer and Labour, Mrs Ayoola Opabiyi to the MWUN Secretariat in Lagos on Thursday to honor Adeyanju.

Speaking at the event, Bodunde highlighted Adeyanju’s selfless leadersjip and dedication.

He said, “We are celebrating and honoring Comrade Adeyanju for his positive impact, transformation of the union, and contribution to the welfare and development of both the union and the NPA.

“Adeyanju has been exceptionally supportive, offering advice, mentorship, and playing a crucial leadership role. He has tried for NPA and we need to honour him, ”

Bodunde described Adeyanju as a true leader, noting that under his tenure, MWUN had only participated in national strikes, avoiding independent port shutdowns.

He said in the history of MWUN, no union has deemed it fit to honour an outgoing President General.

“What we are doing today is the first in the history of MWUN.

“We have seen President Generals leaving and going, but something like this has never happened before. And we are doing this not because the PG is only a brother or a friend, but because of the impact he has made in the union.

“Adeyanju has been a true leader, a mentor, a leader who takes responsibility, a leader who believes in injury to one, is injury to all, a leader that is not selfish. Because if a man is selfish, all of us will not be here.

“For us to bring the management team of NPA here for this program is because of the relationship with NPA. I can say for the past eight years, apart from us joining the national strike, I don’t think we have closed the port.

“Any time there are issues and the management call us to talk to him, he listens to us.

“You have tried. You have built a house in MWUN And I believe the structure will not collapse, ” Bodunde eulogise Adeyanju.

In their seperate remarks, Port Managers, Lagos Port Complex, Adebowale Lawal and Tin Can Island Port, Isa Sani Abubakar along with Mrs. Opabiyi, also praised Adeyanju’s efforts in promoting industrial peace through his humility and patience.

Lawal commended Adeyanju’s exceptional leadership and urged his successor, Francis Bunu, to maintain the established pattern.

“Don’t change from being humble, ” he told Adeyanju.

On his part, Tin can port manager, Abubakar acknowledged Adeyanju’s significant contributions, stating, “He has made our work in the port very easy.

“Last December, when some of your members wanted to shut down the operation at our industrial estate. I just lamented to our former General Manager, Charles Okaga and the moment he called the PG , everything was just resolved. I want to say thank you PG and it’s a privilege for me to know you personally.”

In his response, Adeyanju thanked Bodunde and the port managers for the honor.

“These two gentlemen have been so kind to the union. They are just wonderful leaders who believe all of us are part of this struggle. And for them to recognise us and come and pay homage, to celebrate along with the senior staff president, I want to thank you, sirs.

“This is a mark of honor and respect that we have enjoyed from you. This celebration is not for me alone, but for all the four branches of this great union,” he said.

Adeyanju also acknowledged the support of his outgoing Secretary General, Felix Akingboye all through his eight year tenure.