In commemoration to the recent elections as 1st Deputy President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has indicated interest to hold a thanksgiving service for the victory of Comrade Adewale Adeyanju .
Comrade Adeyanju was elected in Abuja , last week as the second in command in NLC affairs , with Comrade Joseph Ajaero as President .
Apparently appreciating the most high God for the victory, the President General of MWUN while thanking Dockworkers for the support in a meeting on Monday, stressed the need for the four branches to thank God with him for the successful election.
Adeyanju commended members from the four branches for their support, while also thanking stakeholders in the maritime industry for their prayers and encouragement during and after the NLC elections.
Primarily, the PG while appreciating members for their support during his election as Deputy President of NLC, said a date will be chosen for celebration of the victory, which will serve as “Thanksgiving”.
He averred that his new office is to serve the workers better than ever before.
“We have to look for a date to celebrate this wonderful assignment God has given us.
“You elected me to serve you and I am doing it diligently and I will never fail you.
“Out of 56 affiliates of NLC, MWUN is number two and I will continue to serve you better.
“I am Indebted to my leaders who gave me the opportunity and I want to appreciate them.
“I thank Chief Anthony Emmanuel Nted, who contributed to the success of dockworkers today.
“I appreciate Irabor, Ukamunna, we must recognize them because they are our leaders. We are going to celebrate them before I retire and I also thank the outgoing president of NLC, Comrade Ayubba Wabba who has the union at heart.
“I want to sincerely thank all my branch, district, unit executives for the support I always enjoy from you guys.
“I want to thank NPA, NSC, terminal operators, shipping companies, DG NIMASA. ”
Meanwhile, the PG called on the President, Dockworkers Branch to ensure peace and unity among the district and unit officers adding that the era of dispute among members was over in the union activities.
He cautioned dockworkers against internal wranglings, calling on the dockers mostly the executives to eschew politics and to work in harmony for the progress of the Union
According to him, the NLC position is an opportunity to serve the Nigerian workers as regards welfare packages and not to intimidate employers of labour in Nigeria.
The First Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), further cautioned the members with political ambitions not to use their personal interest to divide the union.
He also called on members who are bent on causing disharmony to be cautious of inciting war that they cannot withstand.
The PG added that the era of war in MWUN election is a thing of the past saying that there can never be war in the Union’s electioneering.
He said, “We will conduct 2025 election peacefully and there will be no war. I will conduct the elections peacefully without rancour.
“We should not divide the union into two, if you want to start a war, you should prepare how to win the war
“Don’t introduce war when you don’t have capacity to win war. The union is about two persons working together and agree to do things together.
“I will not be here forever, I am here today, someone else will take over after me but the job belongs to all of us so we must protect it together.
“It must not be war, war all the time. This time is win, win, no more war war.
“The era of war is no longer in this union. We are no longer soldier hires, we are not professionals.
“I want all my branch officers to put every difference behind them and embrace peace.
“We should work together. Ladies and gentleman, this is a new era and the time to correct the wrongs with your support.
Calling on the branch president, Comrade Ibrahim Tajudeen Ohize to mediate between the warring factions, he added, “Make sure that the districts are in unison because elections will come and go and the union will remain.
“After all, the tenure is four years so if you cannot win wars, why incite war? The districts should work together.
“The stakeholders are going to see the best of our representation going forward because we are going to represent them properly.
Responding, Ohize promised to settle the differences between the parties
“I am going to settle them all. I have done it before but because of small buckets of problems, we couldn’t achieve it..
“There is nothing you want to do without passing through the PG and I .
“We are happy having you as a leader and we will keep supporting you.
“Whatever you are doing, never keep malice with people for 24 hours. Forgive easily. The essence of life is to put food on our tables, then why are we fighting?”
By Roland Ekama
