Comrade Adewale Adeyanju has been re-elected as the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) for a second term.
The election took place weekend during the Union’s Fifth Quadrennial Delegates Conference which held in Lagos.
In his speech after the re-election, Adeyanju lamented the state of insecurity in the nation, saying the situation required immediate action.
He called on the Federal Government to reorganize the nation’s security structure with a view to putting an end to the incessant kidnappings and killing of innocent citizens.
Adeyanju also used the occasion to call on the the Federal Government to begin payment of monthly pension to aged seafarers who were retired as a result of the liquidation of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL).
He said that the government should also consider a permanent solution to the perennial gridlock in the port city of Apapa, as according to him, the situation has impacted quite negatively on trade.
On his service during his first term as PG, Adeyanju said he worked to ensure improved welfare of the workers, ensured that peace was sustained in the nation’s ports, stopped the Ports & Harbours Bill, payment of severance package to tally clerks and onboard security men and the signing of a Collective Bargaining Agreement with port terminal operators.
Adeyanju commended the chairman of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Princess Vicky Haastrup, for supporting the activities of the union and for seeing to the improvement of the welfare of dockworkers.
On her part, Princess Vicky Haastrup, the Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), commended Adeyanju for sustaining peace and industrial harmony in all the ports in the country.
She gave assurances that seaport terminal operators under her leadership would always ensure the welfare of dockworkers.
Her words: “I am not surprised that you are returning unopposed because, under your leadership, we have enjoyed peaceful coexistence between employers and the workers. The Nigerian dockworkers are reformed and it is because of the leadership.
“They are no longer violent. It is a thing of joy for me to be called mama dockworker. The Nigerian ports have really evolved.”
Haastrup upheld the importance of dockworkers to port operations as she noted that without good dockworkers there would not be quality and effective port operations.
