MWUN Raises Fresh Alarm Over Extinction of Junior Workers in NPA

—As Bamidele Ajayi Elected NPA Branch President of MWUN

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has raised a fresh alarm over what it described as extinction of junior workers in the employment of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) even as it urged management to take urgent steps to correct the anomaly.

This is even as the union has elected Comrade Bamidele Ajayi as the President of the NPA Branch of the union. Other executives eldcted are;
Com.Adamu Bemjamin as Vice President, Com.Fagbemi Olakunle Kolawole as Treasurer, Com.Adjarho Peter as Trustee.

Others are; Com.Alabi Lawrence
as Trustee, Com.Babatunde Waheed Abolore as Auditor and Com.Oku Ngozi Mercy as Branch women Representative.
They are to pilot the affairs of the branch for the next four years.

President General of MWUN, Comrade Francis Bunu Abi stated this at the 6th Quadrannial Branch Delegate Conference of the NPA branch of the union held at its National Secretariat in Lagos on Monday.

The MWUN PG alleged that jobs meant for junior staff of the NPA were being contracted out to outsiders, thereby shortchanging rightful owners of the job and making the junior workers to become contract staff.

“The junior staff in NPA is gradually dwindling and we can no longer treat the matter on the surface, if we don’t take our time, the NPA union would go into extinction, the job is there, but they are being contracted out to outsiders.

“We are only appealing, this is the only country we have, so therefore all Nigerians should be protected in their rights, the junior staff in all the agencies are going down and the union is taking it as our top priority to be handled with the Federal Government” Bunu stated

The MWUN PG also urged the Federal Government to reinstate the gratuity of workers of NPA back to its former 300%, saying that the federal government had slashed it down to 250%.

“We are appealing for the federal government to bring the gratuity back to the standard we are enjoying before, we are expecting you to add to it, but you are now reducing it. The federal government should reverse its decision” Bunu stated

To the incoming President of the NPA Branch, the MWUN President General urged him to build on the successes of his predecessor and ensure that staff contribute their bests towards the growth of the NPA.

Comrade Bunu rebuked some of the NPA staff who reportedly abscond from office for several months under the guise of participating in union activities.

“To the incoming President, Bamidele Ajayi, I believe you were part of the administration of your predecessor, I advise you to improve on the successes recorded.

“As far as we need a better pay from management, we also need a greater input. Many of you abandon job for several days without excuse, it would no longer be business as usual, the job must come first, nobody must play with their job, let’s put in our best and ask for a better pay, stop giving excuses to your management in the name of union work, your management is complaining that you people are not coming to work, remember that you are first an NPA worker before becoming a member of the union” Bunu stated.

Speaking earlier in his welcome address, the outgone President of NPA branch of MWUN, Comrade Ifeanyi Mazeli commended the management of NPA for increasing the productivity and end of-year bonus of the workers from 5% to 7.5%, even as he pledged that workers shall continue to put in optimum productivity to ensure that NPA’s Vision and Mission is achieved.

Comrade Mazeli however lamented that the numerical strength of the union members are dwindling on daily basis.

“This is as a result of retirement, promotion and death which is a natural phenomenon. As a Union, we have brought this situation to the knowledge of management on the need to employ junior workers into the service of the Authority.

“The need for this is not far-fetched particularly as there are hundreds of private jetties operating in the country and yet the presence of Nigerian Ports Authority is not there.

“There is need to reverse the trend for obvious reasons. However, as a Union we are not ignorant of management efforts in this regard, but we urge them to do more” Comrade Mazeli stated.
The Managing Director of NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho who was represented at the conference by Mrs Opabiyi Ayoola stated that the outcome of the NPA Branch election would contribute to the development of NPA and prioritize workers welfare.

According to him, the two house unions in NPA have done well by collaborating with management for growth of the agency through the use of dialogue and opposed to force.

“The incoming executives should collaborate with the senior staff association because they have been there before you, let collaboration be your major focus. Build on the achievements of your predecessor and my doors are always open to you” Dantsoho assured.

In his goodwill messsge, the President of NPA Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations And Government Owned Companies (SSASGOC) Comrade Akinola Bodunde congratulated the MWUN President General, Comrade Francis Bunu on the successful conduct of elections into the four branches of the union.

“This cannot happen without having a good leader” he stated

For the incoming President of MWUN NPA Branch, Comrade Bodunde urged him to continue to sustain the peace in the union.
He commended the outgone President, Comrade Mazeli for the peace enjoyed during his tenure and for working collaboratively with the senior staff union during his tenure.

He urged the new President to build on Comrade Mazeli’s achievements, saying that “If you want to please everyone, you will fail, but try to carry everyone along. No matter the insult you see on the job, try and remain focused and don’t get derailed”

In his acceptance speech, Comrade Bamidele Ajayi promised to protect the interest of NPA workers and never to disappoint their trust in the new executives.

He commended the President General of MWUN, Comrade Francis Bunu for his leadership prowess in the last three months of being in office and for ensuring peace in the NPA Branch.
Comrade Ajayi also eulogised the immediate past President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, describing him as the “new generational father” of the union, he said that most members of the union today has drank from Adeyanju’s wealth of wisdom and direction.

Comrade Ajayi assured that with his coming onboard as NPA Branch President, there would be no more division in the branch, adding that the NPA Branch remains “One Indivisible Body” devoid of caucuses, camps or factions.