MWUN Bans Dockworkers From Protest At NPA Headquarters Over Unpaid Entitlement

By Roland Ekama, Lagos

 

 

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on Thursday, banned tally clerks and onboard security men who are members, dockworkers branch of the union from protesting at the corporate headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), over delay in their entitlement payment.

 

President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju who gave the directive  in Lagos, assured members of the branch that payment would soon be made by the government.

 

 

 Adeyanju reiterated that dockworkers should air their grievances to management of the union and not to the government agencies saddled with the responsibility of mediating on the mode of payment.

 

 

 He maintained that the union would not pave the way for some unscrupulous workers to rubbish the reputation of the union that has been built over the years.

 

 

 He said  hooliganism as become a thing of the past in the union, even as he added that protest, demonstration and placards carrying will not resolved the unpaid monies in question.

 

 

 “The dockworkers we have today are a responsible union and as career labour officer like every other worker. I want to give a directive that from today there will be no group of workers without due process carrying placards under the name of protest at the corporate headquarters of the NPA.

 

 

 “It is the union that gives directives and it is the union that regulates the activities of the dockworkers. And part of my responsibility as the leader of MWUN is to give directive to you .We must respect the rules of engagement and the rule of laws.”

 

 The President General maintained that the issues of payment for onboard security men and tally clerks have been resolved, pointing out payment would be made in due course.

 

 

 He lamented that the union has worked round the clock to ensure that payments are made to the workers, thus “nobody should take laws into their hands.

 

 Adeyanju urged the aggrieved workers to desist from any form manipulation that might have arise from sponsors of the protest ,noting that management of the NPA and the union are working closely to ensure that the workers are duly paid their entitlement.