The planned strike action slated for Tuesday, 9th January, 2024 by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to ground activities at the nation’s seaports, terminals, jetties and oil & gas platforms nationwide has been suspended after the International Oil Companies (IOCs) substantially complied with extant stevedoring regulations.
The suspension follows intervention by the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) led by the Managing Director, Mohammed Bello-Koko.
In a communique issued by the President-General of MWUN, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, through MWUN’s Head of Media, Comrade John Ikemefuna at the end of a stakeholders’ engagement, it noted that the IOCs have substantially complied with the deployment of Labour, while the matter of equipment deployment is to be examined within the next three months.
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Consequently, the union directed its members to resume normal activities today saying the nation’s seaports will be open for business.
The following resolutions were arrived at the meeting which was convened to address 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.
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2) That meetings be facilitated within one (1) week by the relevant regulators and the marginal field operators and all other compliant operators to ensure immediate compliance with the Stevedoring Regulations and granting of access to appoint Stevedores.
3) That full resolution 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.
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5) That based on the above resolutions, the Union has decided to lift the impending shutting down of the nation’s seaports.
“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 wants to use the medium to thank the representative of the 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.”
