After eight years of dedicated service, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju’s tenure as President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigera ( MWUN) is gradually drawing to a close, leaving behind a legacy that has not only reshaped the union but has also redefined the very essence of maritime labor in Nigeria.
From the signing of the landmark agreement on minimum standards of conditions of service for workers in the shipping industry to the establishment of conditions of service for dockworkers and salary reviews for Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) workers, Adeyanju’s leadership has been marked by remarkable and transformative achievements.
In this interview with Maritime Today online’ Shulammite Olowofoyeku in Lagos on Friday, Adeyanju speaks on how his administration fostered an era of scientific unionism, characterized by peace, unity and a commitment to the welfare of every member.
He also talked about his strategic partnerships with international bodies like the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), resulting in groundbreaking grants and global recognition for the union, his choice of successor, Comrade Francis Bunu, and his dedication to the principles of fair labor and workers’ empowerment.
Read the full interview below.
Excerpts:
Your tenure as the MWUN PG is gradually coming to a close with the Union’s election slated for March 28. What would you say or consider to be the major milestones and achievements of your eight-year administration?
Let me first of thank all of you for the support you have given us during the past eight years that you have been working with us. I thank all the journalists for the success so far recorded in the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria.
The key to these achievements has to do with the passion that you have for the job. When you know what you are doing, I don’t think you’ll have any problem. You know the name tagging of those days, “Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria, don’t near them. They are not responsible people, they are thugs, they are this, they are that.” All of that has changed today. We have been transformed, and we have transfered that transformation to our members.
I have four branches under my command- the Nigerian Port Authority, the Dockworkers, the Shipping, and the Seafarers. So the bottom line of this success has to do with having responsible executive officers working with you. The role I play is just a supervisory role and if i’m not doing it well, I don’t think the accolades coming from both left and right will be given to Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria. And that goes to all of you too journalists, who have been reporting us objectively.
Yes, what gave birth to this success story was as a result of having what we call condition of service. Over the years, dock workers do not have condition of service. And I started along with likes mind who believe there is need for us to improve the wages and working conditions of the workers.
As it is today, dockworkers have condition of service midwifed by NIMASA and witnessed by all stakeholders. And we review it every two years. So dockworkers know their left from their rights now. Unlike before, you can just pick anybody on the road as a dockworker. That is no longer there again. Now, you have to write an application before you can be gainfully employed as a dockworker.
Connectivity with the workers and the employers is also crucial because you cannot do it alone without the support from the workers.
When I came on board, I declared a state of emergency in shipping and you know what came out of it. Today, we have what we call minimum standard in shipping, duly signed by all the stakeholders. Before now, what we have in shipping is what we call slave labor. An average worker in shipping then is receiving nothing less than N20,000 or N30,000. But the way it is now, we have minimum standard that it can be more than N200,000.
As a newcomer in shipping, that is one of my greatest achievements because I met this matter on ground when I became the President General. Two past President Generals have been on it, but they were unable to break through it. However, with the support of everybody and my executives, we were able to break through and we succeeded.
You know what happened in Nigerian Ports Authority. There was no salary increment for 18 good years. We made a case for the workers and they reviewed their salary. As I’m talking to you now, they are reviewing the salary again. Those are parts of the success story that I think we are talking about today.
If you talk about the seafarers branch too, we have the National Joint Industrial Council ( NJIC) agreement to improve the working conditions of seafarers. So we have done what I think is expected of us as representative of the workers.
We also have grants coming from the International Transport Workers Federation ( ITF). It is the first of its kind in the whole of Africa that we should have what we call a multi-purpose recreation center for seafarers and the dockworkers. So very soon, we are going to lay the foundation because the Minister of Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola has graciously approved that there is a need for NIMASA to give us a befiting land where that grant will be used. ITF cannot just give you grant if they don’t believe in what we are doing, and they don’t believe in Nigeria. These are part of the achievements and i’m always happy anytime I remember the grant because other African countries too have been waiting for it but they said no, we must give it to Nigeria. So we are just an ambassador representing this country on the seat of ITF Global.
The peace we enjoy in the Union is also part of the achievement. Election is less than three weeks now, you’ve not heard of anybody making trouble. You’ve not heard people fighting themselves. It is because we are now running scientific unionism. It’s no longer the way it was before where election of Maritime Worker of Nigeria will be coming, and you will be interviewing me like this.You will even be afraid of coming to my office.
Before I came on board as President General, I’ve worked with various leaders and I was able to learn from their good side. So the achievements we’ve recorded are so enormous. I cannot blow my trumpet, let the workers blow the trumpet on my behalf.
Worthy of mention is the terminal operators and other stakeholders. We can’t talk about our success story or achievements without the terminal operators. We thank them for their support. They came in and changed the narrative of the past. It was when the terminal operators came in that we were able to know our left from our right. All of us believe in this name called Akube. Then there is no standard, no regulations. But all that has changed today. Thanks to the port concession. Now, the terminal operators will sit and negotiate with us. So, the union is moving forward and the workers today, are happy because they know their take-home pay.
Talking about the minimum standards in shipping, what’s the update on one of the shipping companies – Hull Blyth that refused to comply with the minimum standard agreement?
I raised an alarm against the company and as we speak, the matter has been settled. The company has said it’s going to be part of the agreement.
The employer wrote back to us and said, yes, he has concurred because we reported him to the authority, So he has complied.
The Executive Secretary of Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Akutah has already set up an implementation committee on the minimum standards agreement, so there’s no shipping company that will run away from their responsibility because it was signed and witnessed by the Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, and it has been sealed. And the Chairperson of the shipping association, Barrister Boma Alabi,is a lawyer, so they know the implication of one person saying he’s not a member of the association. So, we have resolved the matter.
What would you say has been the key factor in achieving these successes?
Well, I would thank my God and I would thank my leaders that gave me this environment to be able to explore what I’ve learned from them. Without them, I won’t be where I am today. And if God is not there for me, I can’t be proud to move on the streets of Lagos and say, yes, I’m the representative of the maritime workers.
Would you say you are satisfied with all these achievements or are there areas you feel more still needs to be done.
II am fulfilled with what I have done for the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria. The role I am going to play this time around is to be a supervisor, and to advise.
I am occupying an international office under Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria. So I still have a role to play by way of advising them in International Transport Workers Federation ( ITF) so that we can continue to showcase the name of MWUN. So, I am fulfilled.
However, I hope to see, say in the next 10 years, maritime workers union of Nigeria can stand on its own and tell the whole world that we have arrived. The process of arriving, to talk to the whole world, have been put in place. As the Vice President, ITF global where I was elected as the only black man among almost 140 million affiliates only shows that we have been tested, trusted, and believed. So the union is on the pathway of this process of talking to the whole world. The maritime workers Union in Nigeria is representing the whole of Africa. We are equally an executive board member of ITF. So we are already on the move to tell the world that don’t call us that name of the past. If you call us that name, we will sue you to court.
This is the first time in the history of election in MWUN that candidates have stepped down for a single individual. How did you achieve this, having other candidates withdraw in favour of your preferred choice?
I believe unionism has evolved beyond seeing office as a means to make money before you serve people. The moment you prioritize financial gains, you compromise your ability to effectively lead.
Yes, there can be disagreement but we believe we are one union. Since we aspire to be a union comparable to any globally, why create unnecessary conflict? Four years is just like a minute, in the eyes of God.
Why not allow the process of bringing in another executive to proceed smoothly after my term? That’s precisely what we did. Previously, we might have had 10 or 15 candidates vying for a single position. However, we have now achieved harmony because we understand ourselves. So we have decided to eliminate the situation where 5-10 candidates contest for one office and our approach is very clear.
We are implementing a rotational system.The dockworkers and the NPA branches are not going to come back again to govern the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria until the remaining two branches have had their opportunity. That is why we decided to start with the seafarers branch, which hasn’t had the chance to lead.
When two or three persons initially expressed interest in contesting, we allowed them to proceed. We didn’t discourage anyone from participating. However, they willingly withdrew after observing the situation, recognizing my leadership and respect for the Union. They believed in my vision, which led them to step down. We want to avoid repeating the disruptions and unnecessary crisis that plaqued the Union years back.
Of course some individuals might feel entitled to contest, but as you can see the current atmosphere is calm unlike in the past.
I have held various positions within the Union, including treasurer, president of dockworker before becoming President General.I have also successfully conducted elections for the four branches of this great union.
So I understand the intricacies and mechanism of elections. I have engaged with individuals, encouraging them to cooperate and allow a smooth transition of leadership.
Why the choice of Comrade Francis Bunu as your preferred candidate?
Francis Bunu is a sell able candidate.
He is somebody that believes in the welfare of the workers. He has been with me for about 20 to 25 years. So, I know his pedigree and I know what he can do.
Almost all the contestants are presentable but I must pick one. I must support one. But I see quality in Bunu as a leader. And that’s why I say, yes, he is the candidate for the seat.
He’s not the leader that will cause problem when there’s none. I believe he will continue from the achievement that we have made on behalf of all the four branches.
He’s also a member of ITF. So, the experience he has gotten from me and other leaders, I believe will help him to pilot the affairs of this great union.
So, I don’t think I am making a mistake of having a preferred candidate because I need to bring someone who is very articulate and knows the job. Bunu is an experienced worker and a good negotiator who will not betray the loyalty of the workers.
It is one thing for you to be elected and another thing for you to have the interest of the workers in your heart. All my life I’m being struggling to defend the welfare of the workers. That’s the kind of person my successor is. I believe he will achieve more than I have done. That is my prayers.
When you have a child, you pray for your child to do more than you. So, when I pray for my incoming president general to do more than me, the success achieved will be his own. Like the success that everybody is talking about me today.
So, we will continue to advise when necessary. We will continue to tell them that that the era of crisis, that era of allowing people to give us bad names, is no longer in the history of MWUN.
