The President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has harped on the need to preserve the integrity of democratic process.
Adeyanju who was speaking at the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Lagos on Tuesday said it was important to safeguard the union’s democratic legacy while preserving the stability of the maritime sector.
The warning was in view of the upcoming elections season, just as his tenure ends in March 2025 after eight years as the President of MWUN.
In view of this, the union leader issued a stern warning to parastatals, companies, and other external agents to refrain from interfering in the union’s elections coming up soon.
He said: “Leveraging on the foregoing, I wish to use this medium to appeal to companies, individuals, stakeholders, agencies/parastatals not to indulge in acts capable of destabilising the sound peace we currently enjoy in the sector.
“Our electoral process is democratic and stands on a tradition of the delegate process which we strictly abide by in accordance with our constitution.
“We therefore appeal for non-interference from any external agent outside of the one recognised by our constitution.”
He called on all stakeholders to respect the sacrifices of past leaders who prioritised the union’s collective interests, ensuring the peace and progress that the maritime sector currently enjoys.
“I want to use this medium to implore all of us to remember the sacrifices of our past heroes who, through sheer will, understanding, tolerance, and prioritising our collective good over individual gain, embraced reforms which have transformed into the peace and gains we currently enjoy today in the maritime sector,” he said.
Elected first in 2017 and re-elected in 2021, Adeyanju reflected on his tenure as one of “liberation and freedom” for the union.
He urged the federal government to address the challenges of the union which include delays in pension payments for retired seafarers, implementation of the minimum wage, and renewal of terminal operators’ licenses.
The outgoing President General also expressed confidence in the union’s democratic processes, reassuring members that the elections would reflect the constitutionally mandated delegate system.
The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, praised Adeyanju for transforming MWUN and ensuring effective leadership throughout his tenure.
“I do not foresee any problem about the upcoming elections.
“Where we will face problems in the union is when the leaders don’t want to leave. Where you have sit-tight leaders, by now they will be trying to adjust the constitution to remain in office.
“But where you have leaders who were elected and they know one day they will leave office, you don’t envisage any problem. Adeyanju brought leadership to MWUN, and I thank him for that,” Ajaero said.
Concurring Ajaero in the commendable leadership of Adeyanju were the representatives of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).