By Eromosele Abiodun
Following insinuations about the leadership of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), members from several chapels of the union have passed a vote of confidence on MWUN leadership.
At a solidarity rally in Lagos over the weekend, the workers who turned out in their numbers, urged disgruntled members to close ranks and work with the leadership to move the union forward.
Speaking at the rally, President of the Dockworkers Branch of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju, said: “With joy in our hearts, we the entire members of the union wish to commend our President General, Tony Nted for the good work you have done during your tenure. We further wish to appreciate your peaceful honest and transparent leadership style that have moved the union to the next level and ranked as one of the most recognized and well managed unions amongst the affiliates of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and ITF London.
“Dialogue which is the modern scientific tool for negotiation as opposed to ‘might’ has been your guide. No wonder then that you have always excelled in almost all the negotiations you held on behalf of the union with the stakeholders. Your achievements are legion. Time will not permit us to say all, but we shall mention few.
“Absolute peace in the maritime sector, it is worthy of note that there was no industrial action or disharmony during your tenure. Local and overseas training: under your leadership, local and
overseas training was vigorously pursued; not less than 6000 members have enjoyed local training, whilst over 180 members have been trained in overseas countries like South Africa, Dubai and in Maritime Institute of Technology, USA.”
Under Nted’s leadership, he said enhanced condition of service and welfare package for MWUN members were negotiated and obtained for the Dockworkers.
According to him, “We have a befitting secretariat annex at the Federal Capital territory, Abuja was built under your tenure. Negotiated with NPA, the reinstatement of 13 staff that were erroneously disengaged during the Port concession exercise. You have negotiated increase in staff allowances.
“You also negotiated the resuscitation of upfront payment of house rent allowance to NPA staff, negotiated approved increase in the payment of Christmas allowance from 3 per cent to 50/0. You also negotiated the upward review of condition of service and financial guild in NPA. You ensured the employment of youths by Agwut International which led to appreciable reduction in militancy in the Ports, negotiated the training of seafarers in line with the STCW ’95’, managing redundancy in spite of the global economic meltdown.”
He added: “Your leadership negotiated ex-gratia payment of Nl.5 million and N1 million in some cases for members who were placed on redundancy due to the prevailing economic recession which is the first of its kind in the industry. Sir, we also want to acknowledge your humane and philanthropic gesture to officers and staff of the union. No wonder then that you were awarded the prestigious award of maritime man of the year 2013.
“We are not unaware of the malicious libellous and unfounded publications currently in circulation especially in the social media aimed to malign you, by some faceless and mischievous individuals. Please ignore them, continue with the good work you are doing. The entire members of the union are solidly behind you.”
