B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G: Comrade Femi Abass Elected President MWUN, Shipping Branch

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Shipping Branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) on Monday announced unopposed, Comrade Femi Oluyinka Abass as the newly elected President of the branch at its 6th Quadrannial Branch Delegate Conference held in Apapa on Monday., 26th June 2025.

Abass was sworn-in alongside six other branch officers namely; Comrade Pat Eyosa as Special female member, the Auditor is Comrade Michael Fowowe,
Comrade Ubah Ugochukwu and Comrade Williams Boniface James emerged Trustees.

Others are Comrade Umukoro Philips as Treasurer and Comrade Rosemary Otipere as Vice Vice President.

In his acceptance speech, Comrade Femi Abass appreciated the President General of the union, Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, his entire executives and branch of the union.
While speaking to his members, he said “We need to register our unity and work together. Whatever has happened in the past, let it be in the past.
There would not be any form of disrespect from the Branch to the National, all protocols and order would be followed in channels of communication”
To the national executives, Abass said “We need your support to succeed, and we assure that unity and transparency would be our watch word”

Earlier, the President General of MWUN, Comrade Francis Bunu stated that shipping is a very peculiar branch. He however cautioned the branch officers to always carry along the unit and district officers whom according to him are the fulcrum of the union.

He assured that the union under his watch would prioritise the members at unit level and district level because, they are the ones doing the job on the field.

“For those of you contesting, there is something I notice that is wrong, the pillar of the branch is the unit and the districts. A good district chairman is a prospective Branch President, that is where the core work of the Union lies.

“We are going to empower the units and the districts chairman that are coming onboard.

“My charge to you district and unit officers is to go back, the job lies on you, there is no way we can negotiate with management without you people, the constitution gives you some amount of autonomy.

“Know that you have a President General that has a listening ear, who wants to listen to you, and wants to make your life better. When the branch officers bring negotiations to me, I won’t sign it until the unit officers have signed, this is because they are the ones doing the work at the terminal.

“I will not tolerate any branch officer who has no regard fot the units or refuses to carry them along” Bunu vowed

He commended the former President of Shipping Branch, Comrade Ekpeyong Ekpeyong, saying that the branch under him have done their best, and that if given the chance, they could have done more.

He urged the members of the branch to give full support to the new executives of the branch under Comrade Femi Abass, saying that “Nobody should jump protocols, whenever you have challenges, you take it first to the units first, from there it would be escalated”

While reflecting on the journey of the union under his watch in the past eight years, outgone branch President of the Shipping branch, Comrade Ekpeyong Ekpeyong, said that the successful election would unite and further strengthen the branch against the numerous task ahead.

Ekpeyong charged the new leadership, under Comrade Femi Abass to continue in the service to members who look up to them for direction.

The election was graced by notable shipping companies and stakeholders. Chief among them is Mr Dada Babatunde, General Manager , GMT Shipping.
In his solidarity message, he said “I use this ocassion to welcome the incoming executives and we extend our hand of fellowship, we hope he will continue from where Comrade Ekpeyong stopped”

He commended Comrade Ekpeyong for weathering the storm, adding that though the workers and management often disagree, but today, they are on same page.

Also speaking, Mrs Bola Oduwole, Human Resource Manager of GAC Shipping wished the new branch executives a successful tenure.
“You will have our cooperation, and it is important that you realise we are partners in progress and you should realise where we are coming from” she said

On his part, the Human Resource Manager of Saima Shipping, Mr Ubong Usen extolled the leadership virtues of Comrade Ekpeyong.
He advocated for a greater collaboration with the MWUN National executives.

“Life is not really easy for we the employers, government policies affecting us. I am appealing to the PG and the incoming shipping branch president to adopt the carrot and stick approach with the employers, let’s work together” he said.