Labour accuses IOCs, manning agents of crass exploitation of port workers
…Seeks government’s intervention
By Victor AhiumaYoung
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, has accused the manning agents and International Oil Companies, IOCs, of exploiting port workers especially the seafarers and the Dockworkers.
President-General of the MWUN, and a Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, who spoke at the 2024 World Maritime Day celebration in Lagos, rejected the continued exploitation of the port workers and called on the federal government to urgently intervene.
Prince Adeyanju highlighted the lingering challenges faced by maritime workers, particularly seafarers and dockworkers, including inadequate compensation and dehumanization by the manning agents and the IOCs.
He said “As we celebrate this day, let us remember the sacrifices of maritime operators who have lost their lives at sea, ports, jetties, and other platforms.
“Many workers in the maritime sector face harsh conditions, with little to no compensation for their services.
Seafarers and dockworkers are subjected to suffering and disorder. Compensations for their sacrifices are rarely paid, and it becomes a problem between us and these marine agents.”
The President-General singled out the manning agents, lambasting them of neglecting their responsibilities to the seafarers who work for them, saying “Some of these agents have no regard for the seafarers they are working with. It took us five years of agitation before the rights of these workers were recognized. Some of them have served and died on active duty, yet, their compensation remains denied.”
Similarly, he denounced the IOCs for dehumanizing Nigerian seafarers, particularly those involved in lifting crude oil, lamenting that “These companies are lifting our crude oil among others, but have no regard for seafarers. We have been engaging them to ensure that the seafarers’ rights, as outlined in agreements with the Nigerian government are respected.”
Adeyanju called on the maritime regulatory authorities to address the long-standing issues affecting Nigerian seafarers and dockworkers.
He urged the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment as well as other relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance with agreements like the National Joint Industrial Council, NJIC, which is meant to protect workers’ rights.
According to him, “It is important that the agreements signed under your command are respected. The NJIC, meant to protect the rights of seafarers and dockworkers, is being disregarded by employers, and this is affecting our members.”
Lamenting the plight of maritime workers over the years, Prince Adeyanju called for a renewed commitment to their welfare, stressing “Let us honour the memory of our dearly departed members by committing to safety, and reaffirm our dedication to security as we navigate the future together.”
He equally pleaded for payment of the pensions of retired seafarers of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line ,NNSL, adding “The pensions of NNSL seafarers, some of whom served over 28 years ago, remain unpaid. We need to look at their welfare – these are seafarers who contributed positively to this country.”
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