SSASCGOC Maritime Inaugurates 12-Man Executives For Lekki Free Port,As Unions Warn Against Victimization Of Workers

The leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government  Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Maritime Branch has inaugurated  new executives for Lekki Free Port Terminal .

The 12- man executives will pilot the affairs of the senior staff union for four years.

The new executives include; Henry Folorunsho  – Chairman, Ugochukwu Eze – Vice Chairman, Lolo Eneibi Enefa – Secretary, Mohammed Kaluwa –

Assistant Secretary, Dayo Areh – Treasurer, Ekomobong Iniedu – Assistant Treasurer, Omiete Harcourt Whyte – Financial Secretary.

Others are; Emmanuel Okpudi – Assistant Financial Secretary, Damilola Akinwande – Women Leader, Olajide Ayeola – Ex – official, Ibim Biobeleme – Ex – official, Chinedu Mgbonta – Ex – official.

In his acceptance speech, Henry Folorunsho, the Chairman of the newly inaugurated District sought the support of the union members and that of the management even as he promised to uphold all the expectations of his office.

As the pioneer chairman of Lekki Freeport Terminal, Folorunsho maintained that “With your support and support of the members, we will uphold all that is expected of us.

“I am very happy to work with you and we expect the management to cook well for us,” he demanded.

The newly elected chairman further reiterated that his team will close closely with national officers to addressing workers welfare adding that expectations are very high towards achieving success.

Earlier , President of SSASCGOC, Maritime, Comrade Akinola Bodunde added that the essence of inaugurating the union in the terminal, is not to witch-hunt the management but to enable efficiency at the facility.

Speaking further, Comrade Bodunde warned the new executives against greed, selfishness, victimisation and sentiments.

“To the executives, we won’t tolerate greed, victimisation, sentiments. Your priority is how the job will move forward. As executives, carry everybody along,” he submitted.

He added that the essence of inaugurating the union in the terminal, is not to witch-hunt the management but to enable efficiency at the facility.

He said, “We did not come here to fight the the management rather, we are here to partner with you so that things can be done in the right way.

” Unionizing our members here is aimed at increasing your productivity. The era of banging tables is over, in Nigeria today, we are of the the unions to reckon with.

“I promise that you will see the best of your workers but what we will not allow is victimisation of the workers.

“Our priority is the progress of the organisation. The union will stand by the management and the workers and we are ready to defend the organisation.

Also speaking, President General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju emphasized that both unions work in harmony.

Comrade Adeyanju who doubles as the Deputy President if the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and represented at the inauguration by Harry Tonye, Deputy President General of MWUN, quipped that the union was to out to fight the management but to help it to grow and make the organisation efficient.

His words, “We will ensure that we will nurture the project to maturity. We will not allow victimisation of workers.

“You have to cook a good food for the workers to be able to deliver efficiently because if you don’t cook good food and we have to cook for you, you will not be able to eat it.

He however admonished the new executives to carry the workers, union and management along in whatever they are doing.

He implored them to adopt dialogue over banging of tables as means of negotiating with the management of the organisation.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of LFT, Mr. Yann Magarian stated the resolve of the terminal operator’s commitment to work with the workers and Unions

He promised to adhere to the rules of engagement as contained in the labour laws saying, “We will do something together.”

Also speaking, Fubara Awanta, General Manager/Head of Government Relations of LFT assured the union of conviviality with the management.

He stressed that the good relationship between the two bodies would be sustained.

The Human Resources Manager, Ibiso Eteh also promised that the management would go all out to give workers good treatment .

She said, “We are here to support you. We will cook the right food and serve it round.”

 

“I know the staff will give us their best, ” she enthused.

By Roland Ekama