UPDATED: Dockworkers Accuse Terminal Operator; ENL Consortium of Interference in Upcoming Branch Elections

—Demands Fair Elections, Warns of Impending Anarchy

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Dockworkers under the aegis of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on Monday 28th of April 2025, staged a peaceful protest at Apapa ports and Tin Can Island Ports, even as they raised allegations of interference coming from the management of terminal operator at Apapa Port; ENL Consortium, in the forthcoming dockworkers branch elections.

The palaccards displayed by the protesting dockworkers reads “Terminal operators should stay clear of our union election”
“We want to choose our leaders by ourselves”
“Tony Stay Away from our Union Election” “We want Justice and Equity ” among others.

Leaders of the union who took turns to address journalists on protest ground, alleged that the owner of ENL Terminal, Olori Vicky Haastrup in collaboration with an ex-president general of the union, Comrade Tony Nted, were trying to impose a candidate from the ENL terminal on the workers.

Meanwhile, the Legal Adviser to ENL Terminal, Barr Boye Uzamot dispelled the allegations made by the workers, describing it as false.

In a chat with DAILY TREND, Barr Uzamot stated that “ENL Terminal is not imposing any candidate on anybody, and the terminal is not involved in affairs of the union elections in any way”

The dockworkers protest train proceeded from Tin Can Island first gate to second gate, Apapa Port gate, NIMASA office, and subsequently to the union secretariat at Olodi Apapa.

Convener of the protesting dockworkers, Comrade Sunday Osho. Assistant Secretary, Apapa District 1 of MWUN, stated that one of the demand of the workers is for rotational presidency of the branch.

He said that Apapa has produced President’s of the branch for the past 16-years with the help of terminal operators, and that it was time for Tin Can port to produce a branch president.

“We are here to register our grievances before the regulator which is NIMASA, reason is that we don’t want any Anarchy Violence or Uproar in the port industry, we love the peace we have been enjoying for the past eight years during the time of the past President General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju.
Our Dockworkers Branch election would be announced any moment from now and we want to condemn injustice, we want fairness and orderliness.

“In 2017, such injustice occurred under the leadership of Comrade Tony Nted while he was trying to hand over power. We have four branches that make up the union, we believe that other branches should emerge as President General of the union.

Since the formation of the union, we have had President General from dockworkers branch which is Comrade Uzoije Ukaumuna, he was succeeded by Comrade Onikolease Irabor from NPA Branch, he was also succeeded by another President General from dockworkers branch in person of Comrade Tony Nted.

When Tony Nted was handing over power in 2017, we asked him to pick from other branches but he insisted on transmitting power to Dockworkers Branch again.

“Subsequently, there was an adjustment to our constitution in that 2017, and it was gazetted by the Registrar of trade union, Rule 40 A, stating that, starting from 2025, one of the branches who have not tasted power should emerge PG.
We believe that such a rule should cascade down to other branches of the union.

“Now, our former President General, Tony Nted is flexing muscles that he must produce another candidate from the same terminal that the out-going Branch President emerged from, the same stevedoring contractor.

“We are giving him the respect as our past leader, but that does not mean he should now be dominating affairs of the Dockworkers.

“We are old enough to chose our leaders, the former PG should stay clear of our election, any promise that he has made with Madam ENL, Princess Vicky Haastrup that they want to sponsor a candidate from that terminal, we don’t know what she has as hidden agenda and what she is covering up in her terminal that she wants to President to be coming from same area.

“If she is allowed to have her way, automatically there would be disharmony in the port and it would lead to Anarchy” he warned.

Also speaking on the protest and the looming leadership crisis in the dockworkers branch, Comrade Adeyi Abdulwaheed from SIFAX Port and Cargo Terminal, stated that “There are many things going on underground, the terminal operator have no respect for the workers, they are planning to manipulate the workers by imposing on us the leader that would protect their own interests.

“We all know that unionism is about representing the interest of workers and their welfare packages. We all stand against any impostor from terminal operators or any manipulation against the workers. It is our fundamental right to chose our leaders.
Comrade Oluwole Adetumi Michael is ready to serve, we know his capacity and capability, and he is the one we are backing.

“The rotation of the leadership is very important, the last two President is from Apapa and now, we are hearing that our compromised leaders have promised the same “Madam ENL, who is not supposed to determine our leaders, if we allow this, it means the workers are in trouble” he said

Comrade Uche Nwana Felix, from the National FlourMill Jetty warned that a great injustice is about to rock the boat of the Dockworkers Branch of the union.

“Some set of people want to present themselves as the Oracle of maritime or Cabal or whatever name they claim. Our ex-president general, Comrade Tony Nted Emmanuel. In 2017, he brought a candidate, Comrade Tajudeen Ohize as Dockworkers President, what he told us was that Madam ENL, asked him to help Ohize become President.

“That same year, there was an amendment to our constitution that leadership should be rotational, and one of the contestant then, Comrade Mukaila Esho was asked to step down for Ohize.
Getting to Tin Can Island turn now, they still want to impose on us again” he said

Also speaking, another dockworker, Comrade Igwe Godwin, insisted that all the workers are demanding for is fairness and justice.
He alleged that for ENL Terminal and its Stevedoring contractor; Tobef Stevedores to insist on producing President’s for the dockworkers branch, it means something wrong is going inside the terminal and they are trying to cover it up.

“For Tobef to be trying to bring out another candidate, it means they are hiding something in the terminal they don’t want the world to see” he said

Meanwhile, the President General of MWUN, Comrade Francis Bunu Abi has assured all protesting dockworkers that their demands and concerns shall be addressed, even as he promised that no candidate would be disenfranchised in the forthcoming branch election.

Comrade Bunu commended the dockworkers for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner throughout the protest.

“The leadership of the Union is big and strong enough to handle any matter concerning the coming election, this is one of the simplest matter”
He however warned that there should be no campaign of calumny or campaign activities inside the port or places where the union has businesses.

While addressing the dockworkers who stormed the union headquarters, Comrade Bunu said “I support your dream and aspirations for wanting a better leader, this is the only way you people can express your rights.

“However, let it be known that we are still one indivisible family, and every of the concerns you have expressed shall be resolved at a roundtable discussion, nobody shall be disenfranchised. But, always remember that our constitution is the grand norm.

“As followers of any candidates, don’t fight yourselves, because the people you are fighting over, they all have where they meet everyday”

He warned that at the end of the election, any candidate that emerge remains final, and that the union would not entertain any post-election complaints.

The MWUN PG observed an existing knowledge gap in the union, especially in union leaders understanding the constitution of the union.

“Most of the elected officers need to understand the constitution of the union, arguing that the ‘Rule 40-A’ of the union as being quoted by the dockworkers on rotational presidency, does not extend to the branches, but only to the President General election.

“In my branch, we have an arrangement among ourselves, unlike what is playing out in the dockworkers branch, you ought to negotiate amongst yourselves before the election time. But now, you cannot change the goal post when the match is already in play
However, I want to assure you all matters would be resolved”

Responding to this, leader of the Dockworkers Protest, Comrade Sunday Osho, urged the PG to make further amendment to the Rule 40-A to ensure that it extends to the branches and the districts.
“This is the only constitution that we have” he insisted.