MWUN,NARTO ,NAMTOP,Move To End Harassment,Extortion Of Truckers, Sign MoU

MWUN,NARTO ,NAMTOP,Move To End Harassment,Extortion Of Truckers, Sign MoU
……do not introduce tugry into this collaboration- Adeyanju warns collaborating unions

By Frank Odinukaeze

In a deliberate reaction to the perennial extortions ,intimidation and harassment of truckers,haulage operators and dockworkers, three Unions in the maritime Industry: Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria MWUN,National Association of Road Transport Owners NARTO,and  Nexus of National Association of Maritime transport Operators NAMTOP, have teamed up to put and end to this recurring issue of extortion along the port access roads.

To make good their intention,the three Unions on Monday, November 27, 2023, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a strong resolve to actualize their objective of halting unbridled extortions , harassment and intimidation of truckers
by security operatives controlling traffic along the port access roads.
The collaborating unions contend that the Memorandum of Understanding MoU,aside protecting truckers from harassment, intimidation and extortion by security operatives controlling traffic, it would also protect the interest and welfare of dockworkers,and haulage operators .

Speaking during the signing of the MoU held at the NARTO National secretariat in Lagos, President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, said the collaboration is a new in the history of the unions,as it seeks to address truckers challenges.The number one maritime leader ,however warned collaborating unions to avoid bringing unhealthy practices into the collaboration

Adeyanju warned that the union would no longer tolerate any form of harassment and extortion of truck drivers by Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials and other security agencies adding that MWUN may be forced to declare a trade dispute should the harassment of truckers, especially within the port access roads, continues.

He lamented the the treatment being meted to trucker despite their immense contribution to the nation’s economy, Adeyanju noted that they are always at the receiving end of unbridled extortion by security agencies, who also impound their trucks at will.

He noted truckers spend a lot of money moving goods from the due largely to illegal payments ranging from N30, 000 and above at checkpoints created by security personnel that control traffic. This, he said, has continued to result in high cost of transportation as truck owners increase their bills, which at the end, is passed to the end user of the products.
“This is a new dawn in the history of truckers operation where we have leaders of the various maritime and transport unions coming together to form this collaboration. The Lagos state government should look into the extortion of truckers and make sure they organised the LASTMA management.

“With this collaboration, on behalf of MWUN, the era of impounding trucks on the roads against this collaboration stops as from today. We have signed a legitimate MoU and we are working within the ports. If any truck is arrested on the road, we might be forced to declare a trade dispute against the constituted authority in the Nigerian ports because the truckers have suffered enough in the hands of those that are supposed to protect them,” he warned.

The MWUN boss also espoused the importance of sincerity and commitment,which he noted are key to the success of the collaboration and therefore implored all parties involved , to live above board ,stressing that if there is no sincerity of purpose, the collaboration may fail.

Speaking also, National President of NARTO, Yusuf Othman, said the collaboration by the unions will enhance the operations of members.

“This collaboration is signed today so that we can have better operations. Transporters have suffered alot in the hands of non-state actors and security agencies. So this is high time we come together to get a better result,” he said.

Representative and Chairman, Board of Trustees of NAMTOP, Maroof Raheem said, “We have a reason to collaborate together for us to succeed in the face of the challenge we are facing in the industry. Truckers are facing a lot of harassment from security agencies despite being on the roads for weeks. That is why we are collaborating with MWUN because they are always in the port.”

Also speaking, Patron of NAMTOP, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, expressed optimism about the collaboration just as he commended the MWUN PG for his efforts in transforming the union.

“We have never had it so peaceful with MWUN like the way we have it now, there was a time when a year will hardly pass without you seeing dead bodies on the road as a result of fighting and all that, but all that has changed now”, he said.

Ogungbemi commended the collaboration and prayed the that spirit with which it is being established will be sustained,while calling for sincerity and harmonious working relationship.

Lending his voice to the occasion,Alhaji Salami Ishola, a trucker, and a visible personality in the collaborative process, expressed joy and felt relieved from past challenges, and the amount of work put in place to make this day a success.