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As Adeyanju’s Tenure Winds Down at MWUN, He Warns Parastatals and External Agents to Stay Clear of Upcoming Elections
R-L: National Secretary of NLC, Comrade Emmanuel Igbuaja, NLC National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, MWUN President General and Deputy President of NLC, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, Registrar of Trade Union Congress in Nigeria, as well as President of NPA President of SSASCGOC, Bodunde Akinola at the NEC meeting of MWUN held in Lagos on Tuesday
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has issued a stern warning to parastatals, companies, and other external agents to refrain from interfering in the union’s upcoming elections.
Adeyanju, whose tenure will conclude in March 2025 after eight years of service, emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity of the democratic process during the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Lagos on Tuesday.
As the election season approaches, Adeyanju’s warning serves as a firm reminder of the need to safeguard the union’s democratic legacy while preserving the stability of the maritime sector.
Speaking on the matter, Adeyanju stressed:
“Leveraging on the foregoing, I wish to use this medium to appeal to companies, individuals, stakeholders, agencies/parastatals not to indulge in acts capable of destabilizing the sound peace we currently enjoy in the sector. Our electoral process is democratic and stands on a tradition of the delegate process which we strictly abide by in accordance with our constitution. We therefore appeal for non-interference from any external agent outside of the one recognized by our constitution.”
He called on all stakeholders to respect the sacrifices of past leaders who prioritized the union’s collective interests, ensuring the peace and progress that the maritime sector currently enjoys.
“I want to use this medium to implore all of us to remember the sacrifices of our past heroes who, through sheer will, understanding, tolerance, and prioritizing our collective good over individual gain, embraced reforms which have transformed into the peace and gains we currently enjoy today in the maritime sector,” Adeyanju said.
Adeyanju, who was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021, reflected on his tenure as one of “liberation and freedom” for the union.
He highlighted the challenges the union continues to face, including delays in pension payments for retired seafarers, implementation of the minimum wage, and renewal of terminal operators’ licenses, urging the federal government to address these issues.
The outgoing President General also expressed confidence in the union’s democratic processes, reassuring members that the elections would reflect the constitutionally mandated delegate system.
The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, praised Adeyanju for transforming MWUN and ensuring effective leadership throughout his tenure.
“I do not foresee any problem,” Ajaero said about the upcoming elections. “Where we will face problems in the union is when the leaders don’t want to leave. Where you have sit-tight leaders, by now they will be trying to adjust the constitution to remain in office. But where you have leaders who were elected and they know one day they will leave office, you don’t envisage any problem. Adeyanju brought leadership to MWUN, and I thank him for that.”
Representatives of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) echoed similar sentiments, commending Adeyanju’s dedication to peace and welfare in the maritime sector.
