LAGOS, Nigeria – The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), today, shut down economic activities at Nigeria premier seaports, Apapa and Tin-Can Island, in Lagos.
The strike action is in compliance with the nationwide strike action declared by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC)
Port users were seen loitering around as the Nigerian Ports Authority gate was being shutdown while there is also heavy presence of police officers around the port, reports Daily Sun.
It could be recalled that the directive to shut down the ports and embark on an indefinite strike was to protest the assault on the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and other Union’s officials allegedly on the order of the government of Imo State.
The union also disclosed that the continued refusal of government to implement agreements, non-payment of backlog of salaries, pensions, discriminatory payment of salaries and non-compliance to national minimum wage was responsible for its strike action.
In a statement by the head of Media, MWUN, Com. John Ikemefuna, the indefinite strike, commenced at midnight of yesterday Monday, November 13, 2023.
Consequently, Port workers have prevented users from accessing their offices, thereby disrupting economic and commercial activities at the ports.
According to a port user, Yusuf Liadi, the protesting workers prevented clearing agents and workers from accessing their various offices.
According to him, cargo laden and empty container laden trucks were prevented from accessing the seaports.
“We have been here since 7am and we can’t access the port. The labour unions have shut down operations, no truck go in or come out,” he lamented.
Another port user, Mukaila Oladimeji, said that he was returning home because he couldn’t access the port.
He disclosed that he had some cargoes to exit out of the port, but with the strike action, that won’t be possible today anymore.
“I have to return home. I can’t access the port to exit my cargo. The importer will have to pay terminal operator additional storage charges for today,” he lamented.
