Maritime workers union shelves strike

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has shelved its planned industrial action scheduled to begin on March 1.

This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos on Monday and signed by the union’s President General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, and Secretary General, Comrade Felix Akingboye.

Recall that the union had penultimate week threatened to shut port operations nationwide over the refusal of International Oil Companies (IOCs) to comply with the extant stevedoring regulations (Marine Notice 106.2014.

According to the statement, the union decided to temporarily suspend the strike for two weeks following the intervention by the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and a meeting held between the concerned stakeholders.

The statement reads, “Following the 14days Notice given to the Federal Government of Nigeria on non-compliance with the extant stevedoring regulation (Marine Notice 106, 2014) by the International Oil Companies (IOCs), the Managements of the Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigerian Shippers’ Council held separate meeting with the Union (MWUN) on Friday 25th February, 2022 to deliberate the way forward,

“Both managements appealed to the union to be given time to prevail on the IOCs to comply with the extant stevedoring law, and a time lag of 30 days, effective February 25 was granted.

“However, at another meeting held with Management of NPA, representatives of the IOCs, NNPC, NAPIM and NASO today 28th February 2022, it was unanimously agreed that two (2) weeks effective from today 28th February, 2022 be given to the IOCs to complete all processes to comply with the law and commence implementation of engaging the stevedores and Dockworkers on their oil platforms and report back to the Authority and the Union for review.

“Consequent upon the above, and the plea of weII-meaning Nigerians, the Union as a patriotic and responsible organization hereby temporarily suspends its planned industrial action billed to commence 12am 1st March 2022”