The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has announced that its members will not take part in the upcoming nationwide protest against hunger scheduled to begin on August 1, 2024. In a statement issued by Prince Adewale Adeyanju, the Union’s President-General, it was made clear that any attempt by protesters to disrupt port operations would not be tolerated.
Adeyanju highlighted that MWUN, as an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), is committed to participating in industrial actions that are organized lawfully and orderly by the NLC. He stated, “This planned protest does not meet those criteria.”
The statement, released by the Union’s Head of Media, John Ikemefuna, clarified that the MWUN’s leadership and members were not aligned with the organizers of the protest. It read, “MWUN under the leadership of the President-General, Adeyanju, disassociates its executives, officials, and entire members from the planned protest. There is no way we can be connected to the individuals responsible for the planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1, 2024.”
The Union emphasized its role as a responsible entity with a vast membership providing essential services, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdown when its members rendered essential services despite stay-at-home orders by the National Council for Disease Control (NCDC).
MWUN has urged its members to avoid participating in protests at terminal jetties or on oil and gas platforms and advised caution against those who might exploit the situation to cause harm or damage property, referencing the lingering impact of the #EndSARS protests.
News Editor