By Victor Ahiuma-Young

LAGOS—Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, yesterday dissociated its leadership and members of the Union from the purported protest on Friday by some Tally Clerks and On Board Security men at the Marina Headquarters of Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, over unpaid wages.

President-General of MWUN, Tony Emmanuel Nted, in a statement, said the purported protest was uncalled for and unnecessary as the management of NPA had agreed to pay the money this week after all necessary papers had been signed and documented.

The statement read in part “First, the leaders of the Union and other law abiding members of our great Union hereby dissociate ourselves from the said protest because it is uncalled for and unnecessary at this time when all processes have been concluded for the payment of all unpaid arrears of wages to the Tally Clerks and On Board Security men by next week (this week). Whatever is the reason for the purported protest can only be explained by those behind it because our members especially the affected Tally Clerks and On Board Security men, who have been enduring the hardship occasioned by months of unpaid wages, are aware of the efforts the Union has made to ensure they are paid their legitimate wages.

“Just last week, we had to suspend our planned to shut the ports after all the papers for the payment were duly signed by the management of NPA including the Executive Director of Finance and we have been assured that the payment will be done next week (this week). We are sure that our law abiding members who have endured all this while, will not then start protesting when there is light at the end of the tunnel.’’