By Roland Ekama
History was recorded on Friday, as top officials from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) led by the Executive Director , Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Alhaji Ahmed Gambo ,who paid a working visit to the headquarters of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).
The visit marked the first time in the history of the union existence, an executive from any of the government agencies would visit its national secretariat located at 119,Osho Drive Olodi Apapa in Lagos.
The Executive Director was received by the union’s President General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju.
Comrade Adeyanju maintained that the visit by the NIMASA top brass would go down in the history books of MWUN, as no government official had embarked on such visitation.
Adeyanju said government agencies in the maritime sector in time past had labelled MWUN as a group of people who are not relevant to the industry but added that such narratives have changed.
He assured his guest that the union and NIMASA will continue to work as pattern in progress to move the maritime sector forward,pointing out that the MWUN believes in dialogue and negotiations.
While responding, Gambo affirmed that the apex maritime regulatory agency will continue to appreciate the leadership style and quality of the Adeyanju administration, adding that NIMASA will always support the labour union to achieve greatness.
Gambo stated that the union visitation to the agency on familiarisation grounds have been consistence hence the need to recuperate the gesture.
Issues discussed at the meeting include: the forthcoming world seafarers day celebration, dockworkers day celebration and the state of the Apapa Oshodi Expressway way.
Other issues raised by the Maritime Union boss include the smooth relationship between the union and NIMASA ,the national Secretariat of MWUN ,seafarers and dockworkers biometric etc.
