By Victor Ahiuma-Young

The Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria, MWUN, and the Senior Staff Association of Shipping, Clearing and Forwarding Agencies, SSASCFA, have sealed a strategic partnership aimed at protecting jobs and strengthening labour representation across Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy sector.

The move, described as a milestone in labour unity within the maritime industry, seeks to enhance cooperation between the two unions and ensure the effective unionisation of both junior and senior employees in shipping companies nationwide.

President-General of MWUN, Francis Bunu Abi, announced the partnership when he received the SSASCFA delegation led by its President-General, Harrison Ugochukwu Asonye, at the MWUN headquarters in Lagos.

Speaking during the visit,  Bunu noted that there had been a disconnect between the two unions, particularly in the shipping branch of MWUN. 

He explained that while MWUN already represents junior workers in several shipping companies, SSASCFA has yet to unionise many of the senior staff in those organisations.

According to him, bridging this gap will help strengthen collective bargaining, improve workers’ welfare, and ensure industrial harmony across the maritime sector.

Comrade Bunu commended the SSASCFA leadership for what he described as a gesture of honour, faith, and solidarity. He assured that MWUN remains committed to supporting the new alliance, which he said would yield mutual benefits and drive progress within the maritime and blue economy industry.

He added that the renewed collaboration would help address overlapping challenges, eliminate disunity, and provide a united front in the struggle for improved working conditions and sustainable job security for maritime workers across the country.

In his remarks, Asonye said the visit was intended to rekindle the long-standing relationship between both unions, stressing that no union could operate in isolation. He emphasised that rebuilding the existing cordial relationship would promote operational efficiency and better protection for maritime workers’ rights.

MWUN is one of the strongest industrial unions in the transport sector, representing dockworkers, seafarers, port employees, and the junior cadre of shipping workers. 

SSASCFA on the other hand, represents senior and management-level employees within the same sector. 

Both unions play pivotal roles in ensuring industrial peace, fair labour practices, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy.