MWUN REVOKES THREAT TO DOWN TOOLS; ORDERS MEMBERS TO GO BACK TO WORK
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has ordered its members under the four branches of the Union to shelve a planned industrial action and resume normal duties today ,9th January, 2024.
The Union had on the 4th of January issued a notice on its plan to embark on nationwide Industrial Action as a result of the non-compliance of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and Stevedoring Contractors on the extant laws, which they have continually violated for the past three (3) years despite several memoranda of understanding signed by all the relevant stakeholders in the sector over the years.
Media Head of the Union,Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna in an official statement on Monday, said that the strike was called off following a communique signed on the deadline consenting full compliance with Stevedoring Regulations by Operators in the petroleum industry.
According to the statement, the following resolutions were made at the meeting which addressed the declaration of the strike action – to shut down the seaports, terminals, jetties and oil & gas platforms nationwide;
1) That, though the IOCs have substantially complied with deployment of Labour, the matter of equipment deployment is to be examined within the next three (3) months.
2) That meetings be facilitated within one (1) week by the relevant regulators and the marginal field operators and all other non-compliant operators to ensure immediate complaiance with the Stevedoring Regulations and granting of access to appoint Stevedores.
3) That full resolutions of all issues relating to compliance and grants of access to work locations to Stevedores by location Operators be sorted out between now and end of January, 2024.
4)That while these actions are being taken, the earlier communique reached Friday, the 5th of January, 2024 be immediately implemented as mark of good faith.
5) That based on the above resolutions, the Union has decided to lift the impending shutting down of the nation’s seaports.
The statement added that ,” However, the communiques of Friday, the 5th and Monday, 8th of January, 2024 respectively were jointly signed by Engr. Ibrahim Abba Umar – ED, E&TS, for Managing Director (NPA), Prince Adewale Adeyanju, fnli, HFCPSP, PG, MWUN and Comrade Bolaji Sunmola, President, NASO, also as contained on 8/1/2024, Mohammed Bello Koko – MD, NPA.
” The Nigerian Ports Authority as the Master Stevedore and the Industry Regulator, this last time of the supposed crisis have laid to rest the protracted issues of the IOCs and the Union for now.
“Dr. Adeyanju used the medium to thank the representative of MD of NPA who held sway in the first meeting, commending him and his team for their resilience and doggedness in handling the issues amicably before the Monday meeting where the MD presided over the final communique that ensued.”
