IOCs/Dockworkers Faceoff Union, NNPC, NPA, others set for dialogue

Sequel to the call off of a 3-days warning strike by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, the group is set to commence dialogue over disagreement and nonpayment of dockworkers wages and salary through stevedoring contractors with the aim of forestalling further interruptions of ports and upstream operations, the union has disclosed.
In a statement signed by the Union President General and Secretary General, Comrades Adewale Adeyanju and Felix Akingboye, respectively, and made available to our reporter, the leaders noted that they have taken into cognizance concerns by industry stakeholders over the negative impact of the strike action on their business activities, and have resolved to engage with the critical stakeholders to resolving the issues.
The statement noted that apart from the oil and gas sector players, the leadership of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and Nigerian Shipper’s Council, NSC, will participate in the dialogue; which will also include the Chairperson of Seaports Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN),Vicky Haastrup, fixed for this week.
The statement reads: “We wish to thank you all for the solid support and solidarity given to the union for the past few days we have embarked on a strike against the management of the International Oil Companies who have taken delight in breaking Nigerian laws with impunity and also denied us (dockworkers) payment of salaries, wages for the past one year.
“We have noted with grave concern some major stakeholders in the industry who are not in any way involved on why the union embarked on a strike action which has adversely affected their operations.
“In deference to these stakeholders ,especially, the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman and her management team ,whose two weeks ultimatum to the IOCs on the same issues expired on Monday 8 July 2019 to recognise the government appointed stevedores and pay the dockworkers their outstanding wages and salaries, the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, led by Dr. Peterside Dakuku, Nigerian Shippers Council, led by Barrister Hassan Bello and the leadership of Seaports Terminal Operators of Nigeria led by Vicky Haastrup, we decided to suspend the strike action pending the outcome of the meeting scheduled to hold next week.
“The meeting will involve management of NPA, NIMASA,NSC, NNPC the IOCs with leadership of MWUN. We wish to appreciate the timely intervention of the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, led by Comrade Ayuba Wabba. We also use this opportunity to thank our sister unions namely, COMTUA, ANLCA, NAGAFF and the entire members of MWUN for their support and solidarity whilst the action lasted.”