The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on Monday condemned the invasion of five shipping companies by the Federal Committee on Competition and Consumers Protection in Lagos, even as members of the union were molested and harassed by heavily armed personnel.
The union also warned that any attempt by any group or organization to molest, harass and intimidate members of the union in their respective place of work again would result to withdrawal of service in port operations.
Earlier in the daily, it was gathered that five shipping companies namely Cosco Shipping, HULLBLYTH, CMA/CGM, LANSAL and Hapag Lloyd were invaded even as heavily armed gunmen unleash mayhem on innocent working members of the union.
It was gathered that workers personal effects like telephones were seized without any justification , even as they are allegedly held hostage against their will and refused them movement outside their various offices.
While the union stated that it was not against government agencies doing their work, it noted that laid down procedures should be followed, adding that enquires at the Nigerian Shippers Council which is the regulating agency for all shipping companies indicated that they were not informed nor aware of this invasion of members’ work places.
The statement signed by the President General, MWUN ,Comrade Adewale Adeyanju reads in parts:”I wish to bring to the general public the sudden and shocking invasion of five shipping companies by agents who claim to be from the Federal COMMITTEE ON COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION today Monday 18th October 2021.
“We have been informed that agents from the FEDERAL COMMITTEE OF COMPETITION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION escorted by heavily armed POLICE MEN and ARMY personnel invaded the work premises of our members in COSCO Shipping, HULLBLYTH, CMA/CGM, CANSAL and HAPAD LYOD and proceeded to unleash mayhem on innocent working members of the union.
“They seized their personal phones without any justification and held them hostage against their will and refused them movement outside their various offices.
“While we are not against Government agencies doing their work, we believe that laid down procedures should be followed.
“Our enquiries at the Nigerian Shippers Council which is the regulating agency for all shipping companies indicate that they were not informed nor aware of this invasion of our members work places.
“Secondly, we do not also believe that any category of workers should be subjected to this inhuman treatment without just cause or prior information.
“Finally, we ask that this invasion of our work places and the keeping of our members hostage be immediately discontinued and investigated by appropriate authority for the sake industrial harmony in the ports.
“Note, that should this kind of invasion our members work places continue without due process, the Union will have no option but withdraw the services of its members.”
By Roland Ekama
