NLC Strike Day One: Union Grounds Port operations

As freight forwarders call for suspension of demurrage 

Harboursandport.com: Lagos - As the nationwide strike called by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC commenced today, affiliate of the NLC, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN in compliant with the directive, have shutdown port operations at Apapa and Tin-can Island ports.

Apapa port gate shut Tuesday.

This is even as freight forwarders have called on the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy as well as the management of the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC to ensure that terminal operators and shipping lines do not slam demurrage on them for the duration of the strike.

Port users who arrived the ports yesterday could not have access to the port as the gates were shut. They were seen loitering around even as there was heavy police presence at the port entrances.

Some government agencies, the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agencies, NIMASA were opened for business. 

The Secretary of Association of Concerned Freight Forwarders, ACFF, Sir Jonny Ubaka, said the strike action called by the MWUN was very effective as both Apapa and Tin-can Island ports were completely shutdown. 

According to him, “The strike was very effective, both Apapa and Tin-can ports were completed shutdown. Our major concern now is that the terminal operators and the shipping companies should charge us demurrage for the period the strike will last.

“We are calling on the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and the management of Nigerian Shippers Council and all the relevant government agencies to please look into this and ensure that we are not charged for the period that the strike will last,” he said.

The union had in a press statement on Monday warned that it will midnight, Tuesday 14, 2023, commence a nationwide strike.

According to the media officer of the union, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, the strike is coming on the instructions of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held, Monday, November 13, 2023, directing all affiliates of the Congress to strictly comply.

“The NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) took this decision after their joint meeting in Abuja, which was prompted by a series of infractions and encroachments of the rights of workers, and the distressing incidents involving the abduction and assault on the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and other Unions’officials and the continued refusal of government to implement agreements, non-payment of backlog of salaries, pensions, descriminatory payment of salaries and non-compliance to national minimum wage.

“As an affiliate of the NLC, the MWUN is geared to commence the nationwide strike as directed by the NLC” Ikemefuna said.