LEKKI PORT: MWUN, ITF Spoil for War Over Hints of no Unionization of Workers

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) has warned the operators of the Lekki Deep Seaport not to shutout unionization of workers at the port or else it would face the wrath of the union.

Speaking during a visit to the Lekki Deep Seaport on Tuesday by visiting ITF delegation and members of the MWUN, Mr Adura Ogundele, Environmental Manager of Lekki Deep Seaport hinted that there might be no room for unionism Lekki Deep Seaport in line with the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) Act.

Mr Ogundele stated that ” By the NEPZA Act for the free zone, there is nothing like unionism, I am sorry to say this because the union are very strong in Nigeria, but for NEPZA, I have never heard of unionism, I don’t know how this would be worked out because it is a federal Act, but for now, there is nothing like union at the free zone according to the Act.

“A free zone is like a country within a country, everything that is coming in has a lot of tax incentives, but the moment they are produced and being sent out, they pay accrued taxes” he said

In his reaction however, President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju argued that the power to unionize belongs to the union. According to him, there are multiple government agencies billed to operate at the port with Nigerians in their employment.

“It is good that you have opened up what you have in mind against unionizing our members in this place when the operation starts, I think it is better for me to prepare War against those who doesn’t want the workers to be unionized” he stated

While speaking with journalists at the end of the port tour, Comrade Adeyanju said sixty percent of the workers engaged so far by the Lekki Port terminal operator are from dockworkers, some from NPA, some from Shipping arm of the union.

“So it is out of point to say that there may not be room for unionism at the port” he cleared

Speaking further, he said “The new Lekki Port is going to creat employment for workers in Nigeria, and the expectation is that there is going to be a lot of competition between the old port and the new port.
In the labour union, our expectations are very high”

On his part, Cordinator of Dockers Section of ITF, Enrico Totorlano stated that workers rights at the Lekki Port must be protected through membership of the union.

“The Lekki Deep Seaport definitely needs to be fully unionized for the workers there at the port, key issues like safety, there is need to make sure that workers got voice in the planning of the port, because a multi agency actors are there, the truck drivers coming in, and all sorts of employers entering into the port and it’s very dangerous

“Ports are complex places and the only way to make them truly safe is to speak and give a voice to the people who actually work there and see things every day.

“What is actually clear to the ITF is that every port must be unionized, the Dockers must have a union representing them and the union has the backing of ITF on this” he said