ITF, MWUN Warn Management Of Lekki Port Not To Compromise Workers Unionisation

International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have warned management of the Lekki deep seaport not to compromise unionisation of workers ahead of its commencement date ,saying the groups will not hesitate to embark on industry trade dispute.

The new port is expected to commence full operations in the last quarter of 2023.

Already, the union had visited the facilities twice for a fact finding mission and to further explore areas of collaboration.

 

The President General of the MWUN, Com. Adewale Adeyanju and ITF  Dockers Section Coordinator, Enrico Totorlani both gave the

warning in Lagos while responding to insinuation from top management official from the port of anti labour activities.

 

Responding, Adeyanju maintained that there is nothing like a free trade zone when it comes to unionisation of workers, even as he threatened management of the deep seaport to get ready for showdown against any attempt  to frustrate workers unionisation of the new port.

 

The PG explained that both Intels and LADOL terminal (that are similar to Lekki port) are under the free trade zone and their workers are unionised, thus Lekki Deep seaport can not be different adding that the management have misconstrued the law  to avoid a face-off with the union.

He said: “A port is a port, there is nothing like a Free Trade Zone when it comes to unionisation of workers and you have already opened up what you have in mind against unionising our members and I think it’s better for me to prepare for war against those who don’t want the workers to be unionised

 

“The port operations belong to workers and they must be unionized. We have Intels, are they not under a free zone? We have port workers, we have dockworkers, we have seafarers that are working there now. If you are trying to exempt this new port that you don’t want to entertain any union, it’s not going to work”, he declared.

 

While speaking with newsmen also, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) Dockers Section Coordinator, Enrico Totorlani also expressed disappointment over the comments from officials of the port , saying workers must be unionised.

 

He adding that safety is of paramount for workers at the port stressing the need for unionisation of employees at the new port.

 

The ITF Dockers coordinator further urged management to ensure that workers at the port to have a voice in the planning process with significant interest to protect the interest of employees.

 

He said :“The port definitely needs to be fully-unionised, we need a workers’ voice there for key issues like safety and the workers need to have a voice in the planning of the port, because of the multi-agency actors coming in there.

 

“Ports are complex places; the only way to make them truly safe is to speak and give a voice to the people who actually work there”, he said.

 

 

Speaking, earlier during his presentation about the Lekki port project,  Environmental Manager ,  Mr. Adurayemi Ogundele said according to the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) law, under which the free trade zone and the deep seaport operates, it does not give room for unionisation of workers and as such the workers may not enjoy the privilege of being unionised.

 

He said unionisation of the port would be doubtful upon commencement date adding that, “For the unions, by NEPZA Act I have been privileged to read a couple of what is written there for free trade zones.

 

Speaking further,he noted that:”There is nothing like unionisation as I speak. I have spent 10 years here and I have never heard of union. So I don’t know how this will be worked out. So for now there is nothing like unionisation of workers” .

 

 

He  declared that:“I was born and bred in Lagos and I know what the law says, so we are prepared. All the workers that are going to work in this place are from MWUN and we will support you if you want us to support you, but with that statement I heard now, if I have heard it before now, I won’t have come. I would have prepared for war and waited until when the port will begin commercial operations and now prepare for war”.

 

 

 

By Roland Ekama