The pioneer President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria ( MWUN), Comrade Uzoije Ukaumunna has demanded N1.5 million monthly wage for each Dockworker in the country.
Ukaumunna, 82, who was speaking at the reconciliation ceremony of warring past executives of the union on Thursday at the union secretariat, Apapa, Lagos said that he learned that dockworkers have been given permanent employment of N200,000 monthly which he said is not a living wage.
According to Ukaumunna, each dockworker should be earning a living wage of N1.5 million monthly
as minimum wage.
He argued that dockworkers are the engine room of the gateway to the nation’s economy and should be well remunerated.
He lamented that dockworkers are underpaid by employers of labour when compared with global standard.
The former president general maintained that dockworkers play a critical role in the economic growth of the nation and should be rewarded with the good remuneration.
He declared that he has forgiven those who offended him and pleaded that those he offended should forgive him.
Preaching peace and forgiveness, Ukaumunna praised incumbent president general for the transformation being experienced in the union.
He gave Adeyanju a thumb up for uniting the all the branches of the union and prayed for his continued success, progress and prosperity.
Earlier in his welcome address, Adeyanju commended the former PG for his uncommon contributions to the maritime industry, the union and workers’ welfare.
” What we are doing here today is to announce to the whole world that this is the end of crisis in the union.
” We are not ‘agbero’ or violent workers as they used to call us.We are peaceful maritime workers. We shall not be used again against ourselves,” the incumbent president general stated.
Adeyanju said that former President General of the union rescued him from poverty when he was sacked by his former managing director.
Adeyanju said that aside reconciling the old members they will also be rehabilitated.
In his own speech, former Deputy president of the union, Comrade Bakare Rasaki Adekunle, urged members of the union to shun violence and embrace peace.
He commended the former PG for being a visionary and a courageous man .