PANIC: Maritime Workers Industrial Action Enters Day Two , As COMTUA Shows Solidarity Support

By Roland Ekama

Despite the  meeting arranged between the International Oil Companies (IOC) and top officials from the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Wednesday, fresh indications revealed that the economy of Nigeria would suffer billions of Naira loses as the industrial action enters day two on Thursday.

The meeting it was learnt deadlocked as both parties could not reach a formal agreement on the payment of all outstanding entitlements being owed the labour workers by the IOC’s.

The President-General of union, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju told newsmen  that no headway was reached at the meeting due to the uncompromising stance of both parties.

The MWUN President-General, insisted that the meeting failed to yield positive result  thus the strike will continue.

“The meeting was deadlocked, so the strike continues tomorrow “,he declared.

Meanwhile, members of the union who spoke to DAILYFOCUS NEWS ONLINE noted that day two of the strike would attract some level of entertainment as there will be live performance of musicians and DJ to thrill stakeholders at the premier port gate.

Similarly, the Council for Maritime Truck Unions and Associations (COMTUA), has vowed to show solidarity support with MWUN saying at ” An Injury To One Is An Injury To All”.

According to a statement made available to DAILYFOCUS NEWS ONLINE and signed by the General Coordinator , Comrade Stephen Okafor and two others on Wednesday ,noted that  justice must be served, because ” Every labour worker deserves its wages.

However, insider sources said that the inability to agree on the total amount to be paid was the major cause of the deadlock.

“The IOC’s were not willing to pay all the entitlements at once. You know this issue has been on for more than a year now, and the entitlements due to the workers cover that period, and the IOC’s were willing to upset the payment in tranches, but the workers won’t agree.

They want the entire payment of over a year due to them paid. That is the reason for the deadlock, but we hope the reconciliation meeting continues maybe tomorrow because we cannot afford to have the ports not working.”