The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has inaugurated staff of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) into its Shipping Branch.
President General of MWUN Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, who inaugurated the pioneer executives of the CRFFN unit at the union’s secretariat in Lagos on Friday tasked them to embrace the union’s principles and constitution to better understand their new roles and responsibilities.
Highlighting the significance of the integration, Adeyanju emphasized that the unionization of CRFFN’s staff will enhance the council’s growth and operational efficiency.
He assured that the union will protect the welfare of the workers and help in the revitalization of the Council.
“The joining of the CRFFN staff into the union is going to boost the arrangement of working together with the Acting Registrar, whatever issues affecting that agency, we would support her to grow better.
“For us in the maritime workers union, we are expanding our scope, it is because we are good, that is why everyone wants to align with us, we have transformed ourselves to a standard that we can compare ourselves to any other persons all over the world.
“I want to urge the new executives of CRFFN, do not be in hurry, take time to study our activities, our constitution and study the way and manner we engage our management, because the era of banging tables and causing obstruction in the port is no longer our practice, and I want you to align yourselves with the principles and ideology binding us all together.
“For us in MWUN, we are scientific union leaders and we don’t make trouble, this is where our power is coming from” he said.
Adeyanju further announced that the CRFFN unit would gain district status within the union after three months, a decision he described as unprecedented.
He encouraged the shipping branch executives to engage with the new members, saying, “There is need for you to tap from their experiences, the primary responsibility of any union leader is to protect the welfare of his members and management.
“They must also learn from us, because the way we are handling our CBA might be different from the way they are handling their own, we must all work together so that we don’t make mistakes” he said.
Acting Registrar of CRFFN, Mrs. Chinyere Uromta, represented by Principal Administration Officer of CRFFN, Mrs. Ifezue Elizabeth, lauded the MWUN leadership for their commitment to improving the maritime sector’s operations and pledged robust support towards enhancing workers welfare and industry productivity.
“I pledge to work tirelessly to support and advocate for the right and wellbeing of all members of the Union. Together we will strive to create a more efficient and productive maritime industry that benefits not only our members but the entire nation.
“I call upon all members of the Union to stand united in our effort to improve working conditions and abide by the rules and regulation of our different organization and agencies and to promote safety and enhance the professional development of our workforce.
“By working together in solidarity, we can achieve great things for the maritime industry and for our own beloved country. I am confident that with our support and collaboration we will overcome any challenges that may come our way and pave the way for a brighter future for the Maritime sector in Nigeria, ”she said.
Earlier in his welcome address, President of Shipping Clearing and Forwarding Branch of MWUN, Comrade Ekpeyong Ekpeyong, while welcoming the CRFFN staff expressed confidence in the positive impact their inclusion will have on the union.
The newly appointed Chairman of the CRFFN unit, Comrade Nwachukwu Okechukwu Noah, thanked the MWUN President General for his leadership and expressed optimism about the future benefits of the new alignment.
“He is a workaholic who has been working tirelessly for the betterment of the maritime industry.
“The way you have welcomed us, we feel at home, we knew where we are coming from, if they had welcomed us better there, probably we won’t be here today. With the emergence of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, we felt that this is where we ought to be.
“Two major things we have in mind coming here is; better welfare for our members and development of our agency. I have seen your good works in the industry and we believe in your capacity that you can help us,” he said.
Photo caption:
Chairman, CRFFN Unit of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Nwachukwu Okechukwu (1st from right) and other executives taking the oath of office during their inauguration at the union’s secretariat in Lagos on Friday.