Com. Adewale Adeyanju, MWUN president-general.
Story by Dili Utomi
The executive committee members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has yesterday met with the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the International Oil Companies (IOCs), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the management of some other players in the maritime sector to discuss modalities for the implementation of the extant stevedoring regulations (marine notice 106 of 2014) and thereby prevent the impending industrial action by the Union.
The meeting is sequel to the one held on the 25th of February which deliberated on same matter and where 30 days implementation period was requested by the concerned interests.
At the meeting which held yesterday, it was agreed that a period of two weeks will be given to the IOCs to comply with the extant stevedoring laws of the country which states that the IOCs should engage stevedores and dockworkers on their oil platforms, this thereby sets aside the planned commencement of a nationwide industrial action by all affiliates of MWUN which was scheduled to begin on the 1st of March.
The Union says that it was motivated to extend the implementation time given to the International Oil Companies (IOCs) by two weeks from the 28th of February after wider consultations and in the interest of the nation.
It is noteworthy to point out that there has been a lot of volatility in the oil sector of the economy of late which has created some level of fuel scarcity with long queues for the purchase of petroleum products seen in most parts of the country. A strike by workers in the maritime sector would have excacibated the already difficult situation and caused more economic losses to a lot of Nigerians. The suspension of the strike action is therefore a refreshing move which will give various players the needed time and impetus to consider their positions and find a way of shifting ground for the interest of the already battered economy.
For advert placement and more information, please call us on 08027590195, 08035721540 or email us at greatalternativenigltd@gmail.com
