Maritime workers union shelves strike temporarily

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria on Monday shelved the industrial action billed to begin on March 1.

This was revealed by the union’s President General, Adewale Adeyanju, and Secretary General, Felix Akingboye, in a statement.

The union had earlier given the Federal Government of Nigeria a 14-day notice on non-compliance with the extant stevedoring regulation (Marine Notice 106, 2014) by the International Oil Companies.

The statement said: “The management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) held separate meetings with the MWUN on February 25 to deliberate on the way forward.

“Both managements appealed to the union to be given time to prevail on the IOCs to comply with the extant stevedoring law, and a time lag of 30 days, effective February 25 was granted.”

The union officers stated that at another meeting held with management of the NPA and representatives of the IOCs on Monday, however, it was unanimously agreed that two weeks, effective from February 28, be given to the IOCs to complete all processes.

Others at the meeting were listed as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and National Petroleum Investment Management Services.

The MWUN officers said that the IOCs were urged to comply with the law, start engaging the stevedores and dockworkers on their oil platforms, and report back to the Authority and the Union for review.

“Consequent upon the above, and the plea of well-meaning Nigerians, the Union as a patriotic and responsible organisation, hereby temporarily suspends its planned industrial action billed to commence 12.00 a.m March 1,” they said.