BREAKING! Nationwide Strike To Begin January 9 As Workers Threatens Total Shutdown; SEE Shocking Reason
A nationwide strike that will affect all of Nigeria’s seaports jetties and oil and gas platforms from next Tuesday has been threatened by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN.
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The looming strike is as a result of the continued refusal of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and stevedoring contractors to comply with the nation’s extant laws.
The union in a statement by the Head of Media, MWUN, John Ikemefuna, on Wednesday, said the threat came after expiration of the three work days given to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The union said it had written several letters, including ultimatums; given by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and several ministerial orders, alleging that they were serially ignored by the management of NPA.
To this end, the union demanded total compliance of IOCs to the stevedoring regulations, in line with the communique signed by all stakeholders in the sector.
The union alleged that the NPA as an industry regulator, saddled with the responsibility of granting licences to stevedoring companies for designated IOCs, has abdicated its responsibility by allowing the IOCs to run an unimaginable riot without control in the sector.
The statement read, “All these were serially ignored by the management of NPA, the recent one dated June 13, 2023, with reference number MWUN/MD/NPA/SC/U/1.23, on duly signed communiqués spanning over three years.
“The union is, however, using this medium to demand the total compliance of IOCs to the stevedoring regulations in line with the communiqués signed by the relevant stakeholders in the sector.
“The NPA as a master stevedore and industry regulator is wholly saddled with the responsibility of granting operational licences to stevedoring companies to provide stevedoring services for designated IOCs in Nigeria.
“The NPA also must use its oversight and regulatory authority to ensure respect for law and regulations in the dealings of the IOCs that make use of the services of the stevedoring companies; and by extension, members of MWUN as workers in IOCs’ employ.
“However, it’s saddening that the NPA has abdicated its sole responsibility by allowing the IOCs to run an unimaginable riot without control in the sector.
“As a responsible social partner and a union, which operates strictly in line with extant regulations, MWUN have since 2018 severally brought to the NPA’s attention the refusal of the IOCs to honour the provisions of the extant stevedoring regulations and the continued violation of the remittance of union cheque-off dues in line with the extant stevedoring regulations.
“As a bridge of the extant stevedoring laws stated, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, will on Tuesday, Jan 9, 2024, shut down the seaports nationwide after the expiration of the three work days already given to NPA commencing from Jan 4, 2024.”
Similarly, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has said Nigerians are still waiting to experience the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, asserting that their hopes have been dampened in the face of the current parlous economy.
In a New Year statement yesterday by its president and secretary general, Festus Osifo and Nuhu Toro, the labour centre issued a 10-point demand from the current administration this year, stating that the outgone year was one long, excruciating litany of lost opportunities and dashed hopes.
Among the demands, it said all agreements between labour and government, including payment of monthly N35,000 wage award to public servants in local, state and federal services, must be implemented until a new national minimum wage is implemented.
TUC also asked that a new national minimum wage must be negotiated, implemented and if further delayed in the year, arrears must be paid.
The body recalled that in 2023, it strived to ensure that social dialogue with the Federal Government prevailed even when there were skeptics, who alleged the Tinubu administration could not be trusted to implement simple and basic agreements.
To allay the fears, it said organised labour insisted that the October 2, 2023 agreement between them and the administration be notarised, however, it accused the government of serially violating the pact.
Quoting item two, which states that “A minimum wage committee shall be inaugurated within one month from the date of this agreement,” TUC regretted that three months after, no such panel has been set up by the government.
“This was also our experience with this government in at least two previous agreements reached from June 2023,” it added.
The union demanded that inflation, which is currently at 28.20 per cent, must be drastically reduced to the sub-Saharan Africa’s regional average of 9.4 per cent.
It said government at state and federal levels should stop the “unnecessary, economically unwise and unpatriotic tradition of taking loans, especially when the loans only end up being used to purchase expensive jeeps for legislators, pamper members of the executive and their spouses, or in building unnecessary offices and purchasing mundane and sundry things, including stationeries.”
TUC urged the government to stop “its ill-advised devaluation of the national currency that is precipitating collapse of local industries, which need foreign exchange to import raw materials.”
It equally demanded that the high price of PMS at N617 per litre should be drastically reduced to undo the harm to the national economy.
This, the body said, would be achieved by ensuring local production of refined products.
The congress lamented that with the N28.7 trillion budget, with a recurrent expenditure of N9.92 trillion, capital expenditure at N8.7 trillion and debt servicing of N8.25 trillion, could neither stimulate economic growth nor alleviate suffering Nigerians.
TUC said having a careful and critical dissection of the budget would easily reveal that it was primarily and essentially designed to take care of the ruling class.
However, it expressed that the union remains optimistic that with sincere, committed, responsible and responsive leadership, “we should be able to change the narrative and reverse this trend.”
In other news, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has cautioned pilots, asthma patients and people with respiratory issues over the impending hazy weather.
In its report on Tuesday NiMet also predicted sunny and hazy weather for the North and North Central States of the country beginning from Wednesday, January 3, 2024.
Part of the report stated that “Individuals with asthma and other respiratory issues are advised to be cautious of the weather conditions.
“Airline operators are advised to get updated weather reports from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.”
NiMet also warned about cloudy and hazy weather, with slim chances of isolated thunderstorms over the coastal areas of Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states during the afternoon and evening periods.
It also stated that come Thursday “Hazy atmosphere is expected over the North and North Central regions throughout the forecast period. Few patches of clouds in a hazy atmosphere are expected over the Inland areas of the South and coastal cities with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states in the afternoon/evening period.
“Sunny and Hazy atmosphere is anticipated over the North and North Central region on Friday during the forecast period. Few patches of clouds in a hazy atmosphere are expected over the Inland areas, the South and the Coastal belt with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Edo, Bayelsa and Delta states in the afternoon/evening period.”
Still on weather, Nigeria recorded its first rainfall of 2024, yesterday, as light showers washed some parts of Lagos, the nation’s economic capital.
For about 20 minutes, areas like Ishashi, and Iba LCDA, Surulere, Anthony Village, Ojuelegba and Akoka among others had light showers that were almost immediately replaced by sunny weather.
Specifically, at University of Lagos, Akoka, the rain was slightly heavy and affected the commissioning of Hon Femi Gbajabiamila Hall of residence, which was donated by the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
This is the earliest rainfall in Nigeria in six years. The last time Nigeria had first rain before January 3 was in 2018 when rain fell on January 1 at Gbogi-Iwonja, Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State.
In 2019, Lagos had its first rain on January 20. In 2020, it was January 13; and 2021 (January 4).
In 2022, the first rain in Nigeria was on January 10 at Aba and Umuahia in Abia State; and last year it was on January 22 in Lagos.
Speaking on the issue, a professor of Environmental Management and Sustainability, Professor Chidi Nzeadibe said the January 3 showers in Lagos might have been triggered by climate change.
According to Professor Nzeadibe of the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, “The early rainfall event in Lagos and Port Harcourt may be attributed to the climate change phenomenon. The usual pattern of climate may be experiencing some shift with early and increased rainfall in the coastal locations like Lagos and Port Harcourt and increased drought and late commencement of rainfall in more inland locations.
“There is also a possibility of an increase in the rate and frequency of flooding in some locations. Overall, the pattern of the climate of a place will seem to undergo a change, making it experience some extreme events in recent times.”
Professor Ifeanyi Enete, of the Geography Department of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, shared Nzeadibe’ thoughts.
He said: “Climate change is affecting rainfall patterns in Nigeria and contributing to irregular rainfall events outside of the traditional rainy season. It is important to note that climate change can alter the timing, intensity and duration of rainfall events, which can lead to flooding in dry seasons.”
