Maritime workers union suspends strike action against IOCs

By ADAKU WALTER

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has announced the suspension of its strike earlier planned to commence yesterday, March I, 2022 to protest against the alleged refusal of International Oil Companies (IOCs) to allow approved stevedoring companies and registered dockworkers to work on oil platforms.

The union said it would shut down all seaports and oil platforms across the country to compel the IOCs to comply with the law.

However, the union, in a statement issued yesterday by its President-General, Adewale Adeyanju and Secretary-General, Comrade Felix Akingboye, said it decided to temporarily suspend the industrial action due to the intervention of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC).

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“Following the 14-day notice given to the Federal Government on non-compliance with the extant stevedoring regulation (Marine Notice 106, 2014) by the International Oil Companies, the managements of NPA and NSC held meetings with the union on February 25, 2022 to discuss the way forward.

“Both managements appealed to the union for more time to prevail on the IOCs to comply with the extant stevedoring law and 30 days, effective February 25, 2022 was granted.

“However, at another meeting held with the management of NPA, representatives of the IOCs, NNPC, NAPIMs and NASO on Monday, it was agreed that two weeks effective from February 28, 2022 be given to the IOCs to complete all processes to comply with the law and commence implementation of engaging the stevedores and dockworkers on their oil platforms and report back to the authority and the union for review.

“Consequent upon this and the plea of well-meaning Nigerians, the union, as a patriotic and responsible organisation, hereby temporarily suspends its planned industrial action billed to commence at 12:00a.m.
on March 1, 2022,” the statement reads.