… as Maritime Workers plan to shutdown ports
Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has lamented that port operators are set to record huge financial losses leading to inflation and more hardship for Nigerian citizens as Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) is set for a strike action.
The freight forwarding group has advised the trade union to explore a better option to address their well-deserved requests even as APFFLON called on the federal government via key regulatory agencies to address the challenge which concerns commitment to workers welfare.
Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, the National President of APFFLON made this call in a press statement issued yesterday following the order given to the leadership of the MWUN by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to shut down the nation’s seaport over the failure to shipping companies to improve the welfare of workers in the maritime sector.
Recall that the President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, during a recent courtesy visit to the President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju directed the leadership to issue a two week ultimatum to the government to review worker’s salaries and address myriad of issues affecting the sector.
The NLC boss posited that failure to take actions would leave the Union with no other option than to shut down the nation’s seaports.
Speaking to the News Diet, the National President of APFFLON expressed worry that the current economic situation has already impoverished many Nigerians as port operations have been crippled by tough fiscal policies, foreign exchange challenges and uncertainties following the elections and impending change in presidential administration.
“Port business and Nigerians in general are being held down by very unfriendly trade and monetary policies that need to be urgently reviewed to enable the citizens have their lives back. Nigerians are frustrated and do not have the latitude of patience to keep enduring the hardship.”
“It is pertinent that the government carefully weighs the implications of every policy before implementation and leaders of various groups like the MWUN must not take any action that could worsen the situation eventhough they have legitimate claims. We plead with Labour Union to explore a better options for reconciliation and we also urge the federal government to speedily look into the matter since it concerns the welfare of workers,” Ogunojemite said.
