Maritime Workers Union Condemns Absence of Opposing Party at Conciliation Meeting
The optimism of over 5000 aggrieved Maritime workers, who were ordered to leave the Seaport in 2000 by the then Minister of Transportation, Chief Ojo Maduweke, has been buoyed by a recent conciliatory meeting facilitated by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. At a press briefing on December 26, 2023, the union’s executives expressed hope that the meeting, held on December 24, would lead to a resolution of the long-standing crisis.
However, the union expressed disappointment at the non-attendance of the current leadership occupying their former positions at the meeting, stating that the other party declined to participate in the conciliation process.
Comrade Jacob Udor Egeboni, the President of the group, revealed that in March 2023, the Ministry of Labour and Employment had invited them, along with representatives of the Bureau of African Labour, Human and Democratic Rights (BALHADER), and the other party led by Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, to a “Conciliation Meeting.” However, Adeyanju’s team failed to attend.
Mr. Amos Falonipe, the Registrar of Trade Unions, confirmed that he had also sent an invitation to Comrade Adewale Adeyanju and his executives to participate in the meeting aimed at resolving the prolonged crisis. Falonipe criticized the process that led to the removal of the aggrieved union members and indicated the government’s readiness to reinstate the wrongly removed executive members and establish a caretaker committee to oversee the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).
The union reiterated their demands for compensation and reinstatement as they anticipate a final meeting in Abuja soon to address the matter.
Source: PM News
