I am vindicated, MWUN boss says as severance payment ends in Lagos zone.

The President General (PG) of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Adeyanju, said he has been vindicated as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) completes severance payments for the Lagos zone of disengaged tally clerks and on-board security men.

He said this while speaking with our correspondent at the Surulere venue of the payment in Lagos on Wednesday.

Recall that some of the disengaged Labour had accused the union of not representing them very well in the negotiation for the severance package by the government.

Reacting as the Lagos zone payment ended Wednesday, Comrade Adeyanju said the exercise was the most successful and peaceful in the history of payments made to Dockworkers.

The union boss who was on ground throughout the 10 days duration of the payment exercise in Lagos, explained that there was no hiccup and that the payment was devoid of violence against the background of previous exercises with rancour.

Adeyanju said that some of the people accusing the union of scam later came to apologise to him blaming their actions on communication gap.

Speaking further, Adeyanju appreciated the efforts of the ministry of Transportation and the Managing Director of NPA for their roles in making the payment possible.

He said the four hundred thousand naira payment for disengaged dockworkers emanated from the recommendation of the committee constituted to look into the matter and passed down to the ministry which was eventually signed saying nobody was scammed.

He said, “Remember in 2006, nobody could gain entrance into the NPA sport complex in Bode Thomas for similar exercise because there was violence everywhere and the security personnel on ground were over one hundred.

“Now for this exercise I can tell you that no security personnel is here to protect the affected workers and there is no form of violence from anybody in respect of the payment and so I am vindicated.

The Union boss further disclosed that the exercise will move to the eastern ports for those on the axis.

According to him , the only hiccup experienced during the exercise had to do with death of some workers, which in turn led to next of kin participation for payment to be made.

Adeyanju stated that executives of the union were on ground from December 30, 2019 when payment started up to January 8, 2020 when it ended in Lagos.

However, he further reiterated the union’s commitment to workers’ welfare and packages.

Also speaking, President of Nigerian Association of Stevedoring Companies, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola commended the MWUN for the key role played during the payment exercise.

Sunmola debunked insinuations over issues bothering on scam allegations levelled against the union and NPA.

He stressed that the exercise was opened to the affected workers adding that there are bound to be black sheep in any gathering of people

The President also said that the exercise was peaceful and successful .