MWUN Gets Compliance Bond, Calls Off Planned Industrial Action 

In a memo to workers, the leadership of MWUN directed all four branches of the Union to continue to go about their normal duties.

The Union had issued a notice on the 4th of January to embark on nationwide strike scheduled to cripple seaports operations as a result of the tardiness with which they alongside stevedoring contractors had hitherto treated relevant maritime notices.

The Union had accused the IOCs and others of violating the extant laws in the past three (3) years despite relevant communiques signed by all concerned relevant stakeholders in the sector.

Media Head of the Union,Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna stated in a statement on Monday, that the strike was called off following, a communiques signed on the deadline of the ultimatum for full compliance with stevedoring regulations.

The statement reads: ” Following resolutions taken 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 continues: ”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 tenacity and doggedness in handling the issues amicably before the Monday meeting where the MD presided over for the final communique that ensued.”