Gates leading into Apapa and Tincan ports have been shut down as Maritime workers under the aegis of the Maritine Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) protest over their unpaid entitlements by the International Oil Companies (IOC).
The striking workers began the strike action in the wee hours of today by grounding port operations.
President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju who spoke to Tribune newspaper had this to say:
“We decided to later allow private vehicles into the port because of the issues of emergency that could arise in the ports. People work inside the port and have offices there, so we have allowed them in except container carrying trucks or any other articulated vehicles.
“The same way we have locked ports in Lagos, we have also locked all other ports across the country. No business today except the IOC’s meet our demands”
“some of the reason why we have decided to embark on strike includes: Non-payment of Government appointed stevedores/Dockworkers by the IOCs contravenes NIMASA Act 2007; Several efforts made for the IOCs to see reason including the stakeholders meeting organised by the NPA fell on deaf ears; Affected Dockworkers are suffering, some have even passed on prematurely due to economic hardship, whilst some have been made to become destitutes.
“As a responsible union, we cannot continue to fold our arms and watch our members die premature death because of the nonchalant attitude of the IOCs management towards the welfare of our members.
“In view of the foregoing, we gave a 14-day Ultimatum/Notice to the Federal Government, through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation to prevail on the IOCs management to do the needful by paying our members.
“Ahead of the 14 days ultimatum/Notice, which elapsed on Friday, 28th June 2019, we issued a reminder letter dated 27th of June, 2019.
“However, despite a Reminder issued after the initial 14 days ultimatum had elapsed, the IOC’s were yet to comply to our demands as at the close of work on Tuesday 2nd of July, 2019. No evidence of payment was seen, thus forcing our members to withdraw their services in all the nations Seaports until all issues in contention are resolved.”
