MWUN Inaugurates Units, District Executives  For Lekki Free Port Terminal, Warns Against Intimation

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on Tuesday, inaugurated the newly elected district and units executives of the Lekki Freeport Terminal (LFT) in Lagos.

The LFT has four units under the labour union with three inaugurated ; which include:  Terminal Workers Unit 1, STS/RTG Workshop Unit 2, and Truckers and Reach Stackers 3.

Speaking at the inauguration, President General, MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju called on the newly executive members to shun any form of vices and embrace ethics of the job adding that the union will continue to promote welfare of workers at LFT

 

While congratulating  members and workers , Adeyanju stressed the need for them to be discipline , urging them to see their positions as a call to duty and for them to be proactive.

 

He noted that there must be communication network between the newly inaugurated officers and workers saying that all executives should see themselves as ambassadors in the face management.

Speaking further, Adeyanju called in the newly inaugurated leaders that their interest should be on how to protect the welfare of workers and not to allow  management to suppress the workers.

Adeyanju further warned workers of the LFT to desist from any form of drug trafficking and broaching or vandalisation of containers at the port calling on the executives to work together as a team and shun any form of tribalism and sentiments.

He stated “See management as part of you and don’t antagonize management over issues rather report to branch for further engagement.

“Any issue you don’t like please see the leaders of the union so that we can resolve it with management, don’t take laws into your hands because we are operating a systematic union,”the President General advised.

Apparently dissatisfied with management unavailability at the inauguration, the President General  also warned authorities of the Lekki Freeport Terminal (LFT) that the union would not accept any form of intimidation of workers of the terminal.

According to him, he has gotten hints of likely intimidation of staff at the terminal, affirming that “We are not going to accept intimidation of workers, I owe nobody any apology because that is why they elected me.

Continuing, the Union boss noted that “There is someone who just came and started introducing sentiments. You cannot turn the workers to slaves in their fathers’ land.

“You must be sure that due diligence is followed in your dealings and meet with your president and do not disconnect from the workers.

“Be an ambassador of hope and development, if the management is going wrong, you have the right to correct them.

“You have become the enemy of the management as from today as a result of your new role.

“You have been given opportunity to represent the workforce here, do not see yourself as a thin god. Do not be tribalised, see everybody as your brother.”

Earlier, the Secretary of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Maritime branch, Comrade Akin Bodunde, in his address, said that union was not at the terminal to antagonise the management but to partner with them for the development of the organisation and Workers’ welfare.

“Work towards improving and developing the unions. The executives should be good leaders and show the workers the right way to go,” he admonished.

Tajudeen Ibrahim Ohize, President, dockworkers branch of MWUN, while speaking, admonished the workers not to rob the name of the union in the muds

He maintained that the development Nd growth of the union and organisation should be of paramount interest to the new executives

His words, ” The development of this organisation should be paramount in our minds and do not spoil the name of the union.

“The union will not support bad things, don’t think they the union will support you when you do a bad thing.

“”The management cannot short-change you, we will not take it and to the senior staff and community leaders, let us work.together for the development of the organisation and better welfare for our members,” he admonished.

 

 

 

By Roland Ekama