Organised Labour has secured a major improvement in the remuneration of Dockworkers at the Lekki Freeport Terminal, LFT, following the signing of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA, granting up to a 150 percent increase in salaries and allowances.

The agreement was signed on August 14, 2026, in Lagos, by organised labour and the management of LFT.

On the labour side, the agreement was signed by the President-General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Francis Bunu Abi, and the President of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Branch of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies, SSASCGOC, Akinola Bodunde.

The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Lekki Freeport Terminal, Capt. Jedrzej Mierzewsky, led the management team of the terminal at the ceremony.

Speaking with journalists after the event, Bunu said, “We have gotten 150 percent increase in workers salaries. It has never happened before. One thing about negotiation is for you as a union to tell management the reality. We as Africans, we earn lesser than our colleagues in other climes, let management compare our salaries with what they are paying workers at other ports. We are doing the same job, the same terminal, using the same cranes, same office and ideas. So, why are you paying me lesser than somebody in Ivory Coast or Philippines?

“For us, we keep telling management that Africa is not where you come and get cheap labour. It is where you come and get quality labour. If you want me to work like those in US, then pay me like those who are in US. For us to achieve this, it is about focus, and we don’t compromise. Our integrity as trade union leaders is at stake. What we as trade union focus on, is our members welfare. Every other thing is just an addition.”

The MWUN leader also disclosed that the general Dockworkers National Joint Industrial Council, NJIC, spearheaded by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, would commence soon, with a view to improving workers’ welfare across the maritime industry.

According to him, the 150 per cent increase remains the highest level of workers’ pay currently recorded at any Nigerian port terminal.

“It was done through lobbying and negotiations as done everywhere in the world. I have even been to London because of this CBA to find out what they are paying our contemporaries in London. We are getting to that point which is our next phase. The fact is, you as a Labour leader must stand your grounds and don’t compromise,” Bunu stated.

Also speaking, the General Manager, Government Relations and Security at Lekki Freeport Terminal, Mr. Fubara Awanta, described the negotiation process as tense and challenging, saying it lasted for more than four months.

“What we are exhibiting today is a people’s CBA, in the sense that, everyone inside the terminal, upon its implementation would see additional progress.

“This was a painstaking exercise undertaken by the two unions, the MWUN led by the President General, Francis Bunu, and SSASCGOG led by Akinola Bodunde, and for LFT, our leader there is Capt Jedrzej Mierzewsky. It took us four months to conclude the process,” he said.

Awanta had also midwifed the maiden CBA between the unions and LFT management in 2024.
Explaining how the parties managed to conclude the negotiations without industrial action, he said the process required commitment and sincerity from all sides.

“It takes spirituality, perseverance and sincerity. Our goal is to ensure efficiency of the terminal. The maritime is the second highest revenue earner for the Federal Government, and it would be a disservice if we dont have that empathy to see that what Government is supposed to generate to take care of citizens is gotten.”

On his part, the President of the NPA Branch of SSASCGOC, Akinola Bodunde, said the new CBA addressed some of the shortcomings identified in the previous agreement.

“Some of the items omitted in the previous CBA were improved upon and now we are good to go. We started this negotiation in February this year, the last time we signed with LFT was in March 2024.

“The new increment varies across board, there are some that are 150 percent some are 80 percent , while some are 60 percent . We have different categories like overtime, weekend jobs, public holiday allowance, transport, feeding, utility, housing, hazardous allowances and others.

“We have to support them also because they have supported us, the workers must support the management and put in their best.”