By Uzor Odigbo
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has bared tally clerks and onboard security men, who its members, from protesting at the corporate headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) over delay in the payment of their entitlement.
President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, who gave the directive in Lagos, assured members of the branch that payment would soon be made by the government.
Adeyanju also advised dockworkers to air their grievances to management of the union and not to the government agencies saddled with the responsibility of mediating on the mode of payment.
He maintained that the union would not allow some unscrupulous workers to rubbish its reputation that had been built over the years.
He said that hooliganism has become a thing of the past in the union, even as he added that protest, demonstration and placards carrying would not resolve the unpaid monies in question.
“The dockworkers we have today are a responsible union and as career labour officer like every other worker. I want to give a directive that from today there will be no group of workers without due process carrying placards under the name of protest at the corporate headquarters of the NPA.
“It is the union that gives directives and it is the union that regulates the activities of the dockworkers. And part of my responsibility as the leader of MWUN is to give directive to you .We must respect the rules of engagement and the rule of laws.”
The President General maintained that the issues of payment for onboard security men and tally clerks had been resolved, pointing out that payment would be made in due course.
He lamented that the union has worked round the clock to ensure that payments are made to the workers, thus “nobody should take laws into their hands.
Adeyanju urged the aggrieved workers to desist from any form manipulation that might have arise from sponsors of the protest ,noting that management of the NPA and the union are working closely to ensure that the workers are duly paid their entitlement.
