MWUN To Engage NNPC, IOCs, Others Over Strike Suspension

By Roland Ekama

 

Even as it has suspended the three days industrial actions in port operations nationwide ,the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on Friday said it will engage management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and International Oil Companies (IOCs) ,over the disagreement of wages and salary non payment for stevedoring contractors.

 

DAILYFOCUS NEWS ONLINE had earlier reported in the day that the union suspended the three days strike action embarked upon by it.

 

According to a statement made available to our correspondent and signed by MWUN ‘s President General , Comrade Adewale Adeyanju and the Secretary General ,Comrade Felix Akingboye respectively, noted that some stakeholders in the industry expressed concerns over the negative impact of the strike action on their business activities.

 

The statement noted that apart from the oil and gas sector players,the leadership of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA),Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Shipper’s Council (NSC) will be in attendance come next week.

 

Though no confirmed date in the statement, It added that the Chairperson of Seaports Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN),Vicky Haastrup will also be in attendance at the meeting..

 

It pointing out that the union suspended the industrial action pending the outcome of next week’s meeting.

 

The statement added : “We wish to thank you all for the solid support and solidarity given to the union for the past few days we have embarked on a strike against the management of the International Oil Companies who have taken delight in breaking Nigerian laws with impunity and also denied us (dockworkers) payment of salaries, wages for the past one year “.

 

“We have noted with grave concern with some major stakeholders in the industry who are not in any involved on why the union embarked on a strike action are adversely affected in their operations”.

 

However, arising from the intervention from the permanent secretaries ,federal ministries of transportation and labour and employment, some notable stakeholders .

 

“These stakeholders ,especially,the Managing Director,Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA),Ms Hadiza Bala Usman and her management team ,whose two weeks ultimatum to the IOCs on the same issues expires on Monday 8 July 2019 to recognise the government appointed stevedores and pay the dockworkers their outstanding wages and salaries, the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), led by Dr Peterside Dakuku,Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC,led by Barrister Hassan Bello and the leadership of Seaports Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN),led by Vicky Haastrup, we decided to suspend the strike action pending the outcome of the meeting scheduled to hold next week.

 

“The meeting will involve management of NPA, NIMASA,NSC, NNPC the IOCs with leadership of MWUN.

 

” We wish to appreciate the timely intervention of the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) ,led by Comrade Ayuba Wabba.

 

“We also use this opportunity to thank our sister unions namely,COMTUA, ANLCA, NAGAFF and the entire members of MWUN for their support and solidarity whilst the action lasted,” It stated.