Indications emerged on Saturday that the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN) will suspended its two day old strike action which it embarked upon on Thursday to press home its demands.
Recall that dockworkers under the aegis of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on Thursday commenced an indefinite industrial action to protest the non-payment of salary arrears to some of its members, namely tally clerks and onboard security by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
President, Dockworkers branch of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, told newsmen in Lagos that the union had no choice but to declare the strike action to ensure payment of the workers’ salary arrears.
He said in addition to the outstanding salaries, the union was also protesting against “the use of foreigners for stevedoring activities and offloading of consignment from vessels midstream”.
He said the union had last week issued a 7-day ultimatum to the NPA management to put an end to all midstream discharge of vessels in Bonny Rivers and other port formations without using registered dockworkers as required by law.
“It is not in our character to shut down the ports but we have been pushed to the wall at this time so we are left with no options,” Adeyanju said.
Adeyanju said the strike would continue until NPA addresses the union’s grievances.
But in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting held on Saturday at the Victoria Crown Plaza Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos between the NPA Management and the leadership of MWUN and made available to Primetime Reporters, both parties agreed that, “All outstanding payments to Tally Clerks and On-Board Security Men is a top priority that would be paid as soon as the Treasury Single Account issues are resolved”.
The communiqué which was signed by the President General of MWUN, Mr. Anthony Nted and the Executive Director Finance and Administration NPA, Mr. Olumide Oduntan further states, ”All statutory payments to Nigerian Ports Authority and charges due Stevedoring Contractors on MV Hawk that berthed mid stream at Bonny should be paid before the vessel is allowed to sail.
“The strike is hereby suspended forthwith”, the communiqué read.
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