Maritime Workers Union Urges FG to Prioritize Dockworkers’ Welfare for Revenue Growth
L-R: Immediate past President-General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, the President General, Comrade Francis Bunu and Secretary General of MWUN, Comrade Oniha Erazua at the 6th Quadrannial Branch Delegate Conference of MWUN in Warri, Delta State.
By DAPO OLAWUNI
President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Francis Bunu has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to prioritise the welfare of the Dockworkers in other to grow the revenue of the nation and further bolster the economy.
Bunu stated this at the 6th Branch Quadrannial Delegate Conference held at the KFT event centre, Warri, Delta State on Monday 23rd, June 2025.
The MWUN PG used the opportunity to dis-abuse the minds of stakeholders who believe that Dockworkers are trouble makers. According to him the union is not about antagonise management or industry players, but to ensure that both management and the workers work at the same pace.
He reiterated that agencies who are directly or remotely connected to Dockworkers, should make their welfare first priority.
Speaking, Comrade Bunu said “Without Dockworkers and seafarers, there is no revenue, if these two people do not offload the vessel, can any customs work? No, can Nigeria get revenue? No
“We are only appealing to the Federal Government and every other key player and agency who are directly or indirectly involved in the affairs of Dockworkers to take them serious because they are part of people that make the economy blossom.
“Today, when you hear that the customs service is making so much money, it is because of the Dockworkers, no customs officer can carry any load, we are the ones carrying the load.
“We want to let the Federal government know that, as you are praising the customs.and the performance of the Comptroller-General, remember that the trade union is also doing well”
Also speaking in the same vein, the immediate past President-General of the Union, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju hammered that dockworkers deserve to be celebrated.
According to the well respected labour leader and Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) after the oil sector, port operations is next.
“Dockworkers are always at the receiving end, we are the ones laying the golden eggs for this country, the Federal government should prioritise the welfare of Dockworkers because without them, there is nothing like port operations, without them you cannot talk of revenue drive or the Customs generating revenue, so we are the engine room” Comrade Adeyanju stated.
