• Inaugurates 12-member district executives
By Steve Agbota
The leadership of the Senior Staff Association Statutory Corporations and Governed Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Marine Branch has warned against victimisation of workers at the Lekki Free Port Terminal
The union, while pledging its support for the management of the terminal, promised to defend the organisation.
The president, SSASCGOC, Maritime, Comrade Akinola Bodunde made the call at the inauguration of the new executives of the union at Lekki terminal yesterday, said that the essence of inaugurating the union in the terminal, is not to witch-hunt the management but to enable efficiency at the facility.
“We did not come here to fight the the management rather, we are here to partner with you so that things can be done in the right way. Unionising our members here is aimed at increasing your productivity. The era of banging tables is over, in Nigeria today, we are of the the unions to reckon with.
“I promise that you will see the best of your workers but what we will not allow is victimisation of the workers. Our priority is the progress of the organisation. The union will stand by the management and the workers and we are ready to defend the organisation,” he added.
However, Comrade Bodunde warned the new executives against greed, selfishness, victimisation and sentiments.
“To the executives, we won’t tolerate greed, victimisation, sentiments. Your priority is how the job will move forward. As executives, carry everybody along,” he said.
Also speaking, President General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju emphasised that both unions work in harmony
Adeyanju who doubles as the Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and represented at the inauguration by Harry Tonye, Deputy President General of MWUN, quipped that the union was to out to fight the management but to help it to grow and make the organisation efficient.
His words: “We will ensure that we will nurture the project to maturity. We will not allow victimisation of workers. You have to cook a good food for the workers to be able to deliver efficiently because if you don’t cook good food and we have to cook for you, you will not be able to eat it.”
He, however, admonished the new executives to carry the workers, union and management along in whatever they are doing.
He implored them to adopt dialogue over banging of tables as means of negotiating with the management of the organisation.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of LFT, Mr. Yann Magarian stated the resolve of the terminal to work with the workers.
He promised to adhere to the rules of engagement as contained in the labour laws saying, “we will do something together.”
Also speaking, Fubara Awanta, General Manager/Head of Government Relations of LFT assured the union of conviviality with the management
He stressed that the good relationship between the two bodies would be sustained.
The new executives include; Henry Folorunsho – Chairman, Ugochukwu Eze – Vice Chairman, Lolo Eneibi Enefa – Secretary, Mohammed Kaluwa –
Assistant Secretary, Dayo Areh – Treasurer, Ekomobong Iniedu – Assistant Treasurer, Omiete Harcourt Whyte – Financial Secretary.
Others are; Emmanuel Okpudi – Assistant Financial Secretary, Damilola Akinwande – Women Leader, Olajide Ayeola – Ex – official, Ibim Biobeleme – Ex – official, Chinedu Mgbonta – Ex – official.