President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has reaffirmed his commitment to reposition the four Branches of the union as part of the second term ambition.
Adeyanju reiterated that improvement of workers welfare in the four branches happened to be the union’s priority in the coming weeks noting that Nigerian seaport workers cannot be used as slaves in their own country.
He maintained that dockworkers are not thugs as perceived in time past adding that the profession plays key role to the nation’s economy growth .
Adeyanju who disclosed this during a solidarity visit by district chairmen from out port, comprising Onne, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri, maintained that the union has experienced industrial harmony in the last four years and will be sustained equally.
The Union’s boss said that management will not betray the trust of the workers irrespective of the branches saying that the labour system of the maritime industry would not tolerate any form of sentiments from any quota .
He assured to assist and support aggrieved workers during the first term ambition ,pointing out unity will be his watchword.
Adeyanju also threatened to deal with terminal operators and other employers whose welfare package for workers is nothing to write home about.
Recall that the four branches of the union had unanimously endorsed the candidature of Adeyanju for second term saying his antecedent bought him the ticket.
This feat, according to stakeholders has never happened in the last forty years in the organisation.
Adeyanju said that having being endorsed, he would use his second term in office to reposition some of the ills in the industry even as he maintained that the era of using workers as slave labour is over.
Adeyanju said, “May be people think I am hiding my identity till I come back for second term. I don’t have cane to flog anybody, the only vane I have is to improve on the welfare of the workers.
“If I didn’t sell you about eleven to fifteen years ago,this is not the time to sell you and my executive will never sell any worker. We can disagree but we will also resolve.
“There are lots going on that we must reposition as a union.
“There are some terminal operators who do not have the welfare of their workers at heart. They should prepare for us.
“There are some employers of labour who believe that if they have not killed workers in their father’s land, they will not be recognised as employers of labour, they should prepare for the union.
“The era of using the Dockworkers and shipping as slave labour in their fatbers’ land is gone forever. Dockworkers are not thugs and we must be given out own respect.”
While appreciating the supports of the workers, the PG called for continued collaboration with the branches, districts and units for greater heights in the union.
Earlier, the District chairmen of Calabar, Onne, Port Harcourt and Warri had expressed gratitude for the leadership prowess of the union helmsman in the last four years.
Speaking through Tunde Bolaji, Intel’s/AMS chairman and Tony Nwokocha, Chairman, Port Harcourt District, the outport workers said they had come to declare their supports for Adeyanju.
According to them, the PG’s attributes as ambassador of peace and humble character qualified him for re-election.
“We want to use this medium to let our PG know that our coming to Lagos from out port is to declare our stand and we are here for PG’s second tenure
“At the put port, we don’t have any black sheep, we are here to declare our loyalty and total support for PG’s re-election
“The reason we want to re-elect our PG is because of his attributes as an ambassador of peace and a bundle of humility,” he said.
The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of branded T-shirts , jerseys and fez caps to the President General as a mark of solidarity support.
The four branches of the union include; Dockworkers, Seamen and NIWA Branch, NPA and Shipping.
By Roland Ekama
