MWUN Election on Full Swing As Comrade Uche Igweonu Flags Off Campaign for President General

—Promises to Address Challenges of Job Outsourcing, Restoration of Dockworkers Pool, Others

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The coming elections into the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) is becoming more interesting as the National Treasurer of the union, Comrade Uche Igweonu has flagged off his campaign to become the next President General after the expiration of the tenure of Comrade Adewale Adeyanju in March 2025.

Comrade Igweonu, a tested and trusted unionist is from the Shipping Branch of MWUN. He rose through the ranks of the union, right from the Units level, to the Districts, and to Branch level where he served as the President.

Comrade Igweonu’s campaign flag off was also graced by powerful members of the union including Deputy President General, Comrade Boniface Udo, Vice President General, Comrade Funmi Fasan, President of the Shipping Branch, Comrade Ekpenyong Ekpenyong and a former President of the branch, Comrade John Otemuyiwa among others.

While rolling out his manifesto to delegates who gathered at the Kamal Hotel in Apapa on Thursday, Comrade Igweonu noted that a lot has gone wrong in the union, and members of the union are suffering.

According to him, one of the challenges that would be tackled if voted into power is the outsourcing of jobs to third parties.

“Some of the challenges that we are encountering in MWUN today includes the fact that members are being eroded as a result of Outsourcing.
Outsourcing of our jobs is not just in shipping, It is also happening in dockworkers and in the seafarers.

“That is why you see that a lot of the companies that are managing dockworkers no longer have direct employment with the principal, and that is why we have to make changes. From my experience and where I am coming from, I have the capacity to make changes in this regard and we would all survive within the system.

Speaking on the challenges prevailing in the dockworkers branch, Comrade Uche noted that the death of the dockworkers pool has contributed largely to unemployment of MWUN members.

He alleged that union top leaders who are supposed to fight for the restoration of the dockworker pool have now turned themselves into contractors in a system they are supposed to be helping.

“If you go to dockworkers, they have their challenges, one of them is the dockworker pool districts.
The pool districts, as far as I know, in the last seven or eight years, have been disbanded right from the time MPA said they will not manage them again.

“And as we speak, I think and believe that there are better ways to fix the pool districts, it is supposed to be a reservoir of workers, but that is not happening because some of us have enen become contractors in a system that we are supposed to manage, and thereby, leaving that reservoir empty, that is the truth.
The workers here have been turned into beggars, but I believe that a vote for me can do something in that unit

“Are we talking about erosion of membership? What are we doing to replenish and to improve the economy of maritime workers? What are we doing? Nothing. Practically nothing, But I believe that we have the capacity to do more” he said

On the Seafarers branch, the MWUN PG hopeful, highlighted challenges of constant boat accidents, even as he assured that, if elected into office, collaborative efforts would be put in place with boat manufacturing companies to address the menace.

“In the area of seafaring, you can understand that, almost on a monthly basis, we hear of one vessel or one ship, or one boat capsizing, either in Ikorodu, Badagry, or outside of Lagos.

“Most times, MWUN does not even write to talk about those accidents and I have questioned this several times. I have asked, why is maritime not complaining? Why are we not bringing idea solutions to the constant capsizing of boats? Because most of those people that are moving, they are members.

“Why is it that we cannot even do a collaboration With companies like Nigerdock and other companies that make boats. Those are questions that I have been asking in the last seven years.

“Apart from the economy, we can also help the number of members who come out from MAN Oron and do not have sea time, they will be engaged.
A lot of our people who are losing work today supposed get other places to engage. each time anybody loses work, I feel sad that we didn’t do better” he said

Speaking on why it took him time to flag off his campaign officially, Comrade Igweonu noted that elections are only decided by delegates of the union, and that he has been engaging underground with delegates and those who have voting rights.

In general admonition to the union members, Comrade Igweonu urged them to discountenance the mudslinging against his person, saying that “They have said that over their dead body would they hand over to an Igbo man, but it is not in their capacity to hand over, it is in the capacity of the delegates, it is the delegates that decide who mount the mantle.

“I urge you to do the right thing, some people have been promised some positions in order to lure their votes, some have been told they would stay in office forever, but all that would not work because, there are other people coming out who wants that position.

“Let me state clearly that I have paid my dues in this system. I have worked from the units to the districts. I have also participated at the branch level, where I went to the top of that office, which was the President, and I think my achievement is very clear, I did very well in those areas.
Therefore, the capacity is there, the experience is also there. As I speak, I serve as the National Treasurer of Maritime, and I think that speaks of my integrity too.
Because if I do not have that integrity, I may not reach that position. That is the truth. As I speak, almost eight years running, we have not gotten any blemish for that position, and I can say here that it is a testament to where we are coming from in Shipping Branch” he said

Speaking earlier, Comrade Boniface Udo, Deputy President General of the union described Comrade Igweonu as a good product which must be embraced by all members of MWUN to bring about the needed change in the system.

“It’s not new in our ears because Comrade Igweonu has told us since last year about his intentions to run for office. This is a payback time because he has touched many lives.

“We have produced a good product, it is now left for all of us to advertise our product and tell people that it is good for consumption.
If he is accepted by the end users ,then we have done our job effectively” he said

Comrade Udo stated that Uche Igweonu is the only one whom the cap fits, and should be allowed to wear it.

Also speaking, Comrade Funmi Fasan, a Vice President General of MWUN, described Comrade Uche Igweonu as a detribalised man who has passion for the welbeing of all the branches of the union.
According to her, Comrade Igweonu is not about Shipping Branch alone.

On his part, President of Shipping Branch of MWUN, Comrade Ekpenyong Ekpenyong revealed that Comrade Uche Igweonu has made sacrifices for the union in the past, including stepping down his ambition to become President General, just for peace of the industry at that time.

“This branch has been very relevant and that is why we were consulted during the last election. As at then, people believed that it was an aberration for a dockworker to handover to another dockworker as PG, but for the peace of the sector, Comrade Igweonu decided to step aside and wait.

“The time has come now for him to take his seat, but the music have changed, they are not honoring the promises of the consultations then” he said