The President General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN),Comrade Adewale Adeyanju has called on employers of labour from both the public and private sector in the shipping industry to encourage and honour workers with awards as part of efforts to boost productivity in their respective organisations.
Adeyanju who bagged two awards on Wednesday, from PrimeTimeReporters Newspaper and Institute of Corporate and Public Sector Professional of Nigeria (ICPSP),respectively, appealed for port concessionaires, shipping line agencies , management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA),National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) , manning agents and other players in the maritime industry to ensure that workers under their ploys are well catered for.
The President General MWUN , who bagged the highest award from the ICPSP tagged “Honorary Fellow” (HFCPSP) and best labour leader for the year 2020 , maintained that such encouragement would bring about competitiveness among workers if encouraged morally , financially with laurels.
“If a labourer like me is been honoured today by an Institute of international repute then we are making progress , before management of NPA, stevedoring contractors,do not value the workers but today, if an Institute should come down and profile MWUN and identify themselves with management and workers of the union then we are making progress as a responsible organisation.
According to him, the award is a lesson for the labour workers in port operations to follow the way of humility and maintain the integrity the union has sustained for years.
“NPA, stevedoring contractors, terminal operators, shipping companies,NIWA, manning agents and others in the sector should continue to honour us for our contributions to the nation’s economy.
“We have paid our dues, we have played our roles. This is an example for them to follow. Our stakeholders should celebrate us while in active service.”
Adeyanju assured management of the institute of the union’s support, even as he pledged to abide by the rules and regulations of the school.
He further pledged that”In the next three or four years, we are going to have more awards from your institute. The honour is not for me but for the workers in the ports nationwide.
“I dedicate the award to dockworkers,NPA workers,seafarers and shipping officials. I will not disappoint them.
Speaking earlier, Vice Chairperson of the facility, Comrade Funmi Sessi said that the Institute recognises Comrade Adewale Adeyanju because of the leadership qualities adding that the decorations was aimed to encourage him in furtherance to do more for humanity.
Sessi explained that members of the institute worldwide travel to the United Kingdoms annually for a seminar and conference .
She noted that ICPSP is based in UK but has been in existence in Nigeria since 2019, pointing out that the President General of MWUN is expected to deliver a paper in the UK in November 2021.
On her part , President of the institute, Folashade Airebamien , while congratulating the awardee, stressed the need for members of the union to join the Institute .
Similarly, Managing Director of PrimeTimeReporters Newspaper, St. Augustine Nwadinamou while presenting the award to the MWUN boss , as the best labour leader for 2020 , reiterated that ” Comrade Adeyanju was able to fight for the maritime workers during the covid-19 pandemic for their safety thus brought about the laurel.”
The publisher said the ceremony was held three months ago but the absence of the union’s boss at event informed the decision of the media house to present the award at the national secretariat of MWUN in Lagos.
By Roland Ekama
