Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria is not happy with AP Muller Terminal over the outsourcing of the terminal’s internal security outfit to foreign firm.
The National President of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju, stated on Sunday that the development would lead to compromised inflow of dangerous cargo to the nation.
APMT recently outsourced its internal security to a South Africa-based firm, Messrs G4S and Security Management, to secure the terminal.
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Reacting to this, the MWUN boss demanded immediate reversal of the unilateral action by the concessionaire, stressing the need for return of the status quo to avoid crisis.
Adeyanju reiterated that the concessionaire failed to engage the union in furtherance to make input on the security arrangements, describing it as anti-labour practice.
“Security is also very paramount in this trying period of seeming growing incidences of breaches in security all over the country; so any act capable of further contributing to its breakdown should be met with serious attention.
“Even more outrageous is the fact that APM Terminals has almost concluded arrangement to carry out same anti-labour practice in other departments of their organisation and deprive thousands of Nigerian workers a means of livelihood,” he said.
He added that it was in the interest of the country to maintain stability in the sector.
His words, “It has been correctly said that the maritime sector is the gateway to Nigeria’s economy.
“This means caters for an appreciable percentage of export and import of materials, products, foods, medicals, pharmaceuticals, constructions materials etc. It is, therefore, in our nation’s economic interest that stability in this sector be maintained at all times and at all levels.”
The MWUN boss said that the terminal’s decision was not aimed at undermining the security of the nation.
“This is why we have deemed it necessary to inform our public of the activity of Messrs APM Terminals, Nigeria, whom we are reliably informed have, through a memo to our members, ceded and outsourced the security functions of the organisation to a South African security service provider, Messrs G4S and Security management by CRS effective Thursday, March 18, 2021, without recourse to the union and consideration to our members and the nation’s security.”
Adeyanju also accused the terminal of plans to also carry out the anti-labour practice to other departments.
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