Maritime Workers Give Wike 24 Hours Ultimatum For Release Of Arrested Workers
LAGOS MAY 11TH (NEWSRANGERS)-– The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike at seaports over the arrest of its members on essential service by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.
Already, the union has given 48 hours ultimatum, starting from Monday to the Rivers State governor to release the dockworkers or they will be forced to shut down all nation’s port by Wednesday.
The union made its position known in a statement titled: “Unlawful arrest and detention of dockworkers who went to the port to carry out essential services by Rivers State Task Force on COVID-19 lockdown,” which was signed by the President-General of MWUN, Com. Adewole Adeyanju.
He said: “We wish to use this medium to state that if in the next forty-eight (48) hours starting from Monday 11th May 2020, nothing is done to affect the release of our members, the union will have no option but to withdraw our services in the entire nation’s seaport, terminals and jetties in solidarity with our detained members as an injury to one is an injury to all.”
The statement read: “The leadership of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has received with shock and disbelief the arrest of over 20 dockworkers and other that their whereabouts cannot be accounted by the Rivers State Government on Saturday (May 9) on their way home after the day’s job.
“We were informed that the affected Dockworkers were returning from essential service operations to BUA/PTOL terminal, Port Harcourt and were unlawfully and forcefully arrested, and detained by Rivers State Taskforce on enforcing COVID-19 lockdown.
“All entreaties/explanation made by our members to the task force team led by the Governor Nyesom Wike, that they were on essential services fell on deaf ears although they presented duly signed ‘Essential Duty Port Pass’ issued by the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA).
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