Outgoing President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Adewale Adeyanju, has said that his administration introduced the minimum wage standard in shipping for maritime workers in the last eight years.
Adeyanju stated this recently in Lagos while addressing journalists on his achievements in the last eight years.
He said that the introduction of the minimum standard for workers helped to improve the welfare of those working in the shipping sector.
Adeyanju explained that maritime workers were not well paid eight years ago.
“When we came on board, we declared a state of emergency in shipping because the workers in shipping were not well-paid while the companies were making lots of money by increasing their tariffs. But today, we now have what we call a minimum standard in shipping,” Adeyanju said.
Adeyanju explained that before he assumed office, there was no minimum wage standard in the shipping sector.
“What you had there then was plan-by-plan negotiations. They can sit down with any employer and negotiate whatever amount they want. Now the average worker’s take-home is N200,000, unlike what was obtained before,” he said.
The PG identified the reforms within the dockworkers’ branch of MWUN and the industrial peace in the maritime industry as his most cherished achievements.
He also highlighted negotiations for improved welfare across all branches of the MWUN, including dockworkers, shipping, seafarers, and the Nigerian Ports Authority, as his key achievements, adding that his administration started with the dockworkers’ branch because “there were no rules and standards at the time.”
“But we have changed the narrative from the way they normally call us touts, and that was why we have the collective bargaining agreements,” he said.
He said that his administration touched all four branches and recorded huge success, and that the incoming administration will continue to prioritise the initiative.
“Somebody has to continue from where we have laid the foundation, and I believe the incoming administration will stand on this noble achievement,” he said.
