Workers in shipping companies go on strike indefinitely

Employees of shipping companies in all port formations in Nigeria have begun an indefinite strike today in protest of low wages and what they claim to be dehumanizing working conditions. The strike is being directed by the leadership of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).

In addition, the strike is taking place at all dry ports, jetties, and terminals, among other locations.

It was reported that dockworkers, workers from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), workers from the Nigerian Inland Water Ways (NIWA), and employees from Water Transportation would all join together beginning tomorrow in an act of solidarity if the shipping companies failed to address the workers’ complaints.

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This came about as the Nigerian Shippers Council, also known as the NSC, called for a meeting of stakeholders to be held today in a last-ditch effort to find a solution to the problem and make sure that the current industrial crisis does not result in the closure of all of the nation’s ports.

It has been brought to our attention that the meeting of stakeholders, which will take place on the premises of the NSC, will begin at 8.30 in the morning.

It was decided at the strategic meeting that took place over the weekend between leaders of MWUN and officials of the Shipping branch of MWUN, including plant officials of each shipping company, that regardless of the meeting that was called by NSC, all operations of shipping companies must be shut down as of today until further notice. This was decided at the meeting that took place over the weekend.

Remember that on Thursday, in Lagos, the President General of MWUN, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, explained that the strike was caused by poor remuneration of workers as well as the refusal of shipping companies operating in Nigeria to agree on a minimum standard for working conditions and remuneration of staff. He stated that this was the reason for the strike.

Adeyanju expressed his disappointment that the NSC appeared to have completely lost its control and regulatory powers over the shipping companies, as these companies had refused to obey the interventions of the federal government regarding the matter.

According to him, the situation has been dragging on for the past six years, and the shipping companies have refused to implement a minimum standard for the workers at the shipping companies.

According to him, “The former Minister of Transportation, Muazu Sambo had directed the NSC to midwife the process between MWUN and the Shipping Association of Nigeria SAN.” SAN stands for the Shipping Association of Nigeria.

At the insistence of the Executive Secretary of the NSC, numerous meetings had already taken place, but the SAN’s demeanor was nothing to write home about.

We attended the meeting on Wednesday, and unfortunately, it did not go very well. This is embarrassing not only for us but also for the Ministry of Transportation, which was the organization that proposed holding the meeting. As things stand, the compensation available in the shipping industry is comparable to a sentence of death, and the SAN are attempting to avoid their responsibilities.

“This issue is not new to any of the parties involved; in the past, ultimatums have been issued, and they have attempted to dissuade us from complying. We never move forward without thoroughly considering all of our options due to the delicate nature of the ports. However, given the current state of affairs, there is no way that we are going to continue to issue ultimatums.

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“The previous Minister did not make a mistake when he asked the Shippers Council to midwife this negotiation process because the Shippers Council is an economic regulator. The nonchalant demeanor of SAN is what is driving us to take this step, and we can’t blame them.