The Nigerian dockworkers have taken to the Igbosere Court of Appeal to voice their grievances over unpaid salaries and pension arrears and what they described as exploitative leadership within the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).

The Bureau of African Labour, Human and Democratic Rights (BALHADER) called out ENL Limited over its failure to remit pensions for over 10 years, which have led to tensions between dockworkers and terminal operators.

Over 5,000 members of MWUN, who were allegedly unlawfully removed from the nation’s seaports, participated in the protest, carrying banners with inscriptions such as: “Vicky Haastrup, the Executive Chairman of ENL Consortium Limited, pay our money.” Another read: “Say no to slavery in Nigeria’s seaports (Dockworkers).” Protesters also decried the non-payment of their five-year unremitted pension, stating that they have been pleading with the Nigerian government since 2016 to intervene in the matter.

Comrade Afolabi, one of the affected workers, explained that over 700 dockworkers were sacked between 2008 and 2013. The legal case began in 2016, with the National Industrial Court ruling in favour of the workers. However, ENL filed a stay of execution for five years before appealing the judgment in October 2024.

Comrade Amos Olatunji Peters expressed his grievance: “We are asking the Court of Appeal to compel ENL to pay our colleagues what is due to them.”

The dockworkers’ demands include:

Yearly Terminal Benefit: Each worker was entitled to ₦350,000 per year, but ENL allegedly paid only one year, leaving a deficit of ₦3,150,000 per worker.

AP Moller’s Unpaid Benefits: In 2008, AP Moller reportedly dismissed 546 dockworkers without terminal benefits or pensions.

Comrade Bernard Lobito, a recently retired dockworker from the Sifax Group Container Terminal, expressed his dissatisfaction with the treatment of Nigerian dockworkers.

“I worked as a dockworker for over 28 years, including 12 years with Sifax Group, yet I was treated as a modern-day slave. Core dockworkers earn stipends of about N70,000 or N50,000, while stevedore managers and administrative staff receive far higher salaries. My retirement payoff was greatly lower than that of an administrative retiree from the same company.”

The Chairman of the Over 5000 MWUN group shared his high hopes about forthcoming changes, stating that by the end of March 2025, a new worker-oriented leadership will take over the union to prioritize workers’ welfare.

The dockworkers also cited a legal battle, where 580 sacked workers are challenging their dismissal by ENL Consortium at the court.

Comrade Uchenna Uzoije, Programme Director of BALHADER, warned of great consequences if the Nigerian government ignores statements from the International Dockworkers Council regarding the mistreatment of Nigerian dockworkers.

“The presidency must act swiftly to restore legitimacy to MWUN by ensuring a caretaker committee takes charge by March 2025,” he stated.

Dockworkers also lamented the stark wage disparity between Nigerian and international workers. According to them, professional dockworkers in the U.S. and Europe earn between $85,000 to $120,000 annually, while those in South Africa and North Africa earn approximately $60,000.

However, Nigerian dockworkers are paid in meager naira amounts despite the fact that seaport transactions are conducted in dollars.

Comrade Yomi Adeoti accused the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of collaborating with MWUN leadership to deny him compensation for an injury sustained while working onboard the vessel Invincible IMO. “BALHADER wrote to the International Labour Organization (ILO) on my behalf, and they responded by requesting NLC’s intervention. However, NLC falsely claimed that I never sustained any injury and denied knowing BALHADER,” Adeoti alleged, adding that he remains uncompensated to date.

It was also revealed from the protest that there is shortfall in severance payments for dockworkers who were disengaged in 2006. According to Comrade Haruna Muktari, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Adebayo Sarunmi, had initially approved N586,000 per dockworker from the World Bank’s $100 million privatization support fund. However, only N200,000 was disbursed to each worker, leaving a deficit of N4.7 billion.

Comrade Aliu Mohammed, speaking on behalf of disengaged POOL Dockworkers, accused the NPA of inefficiency.

He noted that in 2019, after four years of being left without work, the 1,685 affected tally clerks and onboard security personnel were forced to accept a paltry N400,000 as full severance. “The Federal Government initially approved N3.4 billion for our severance but later claimed the amount was reduced to N1.84 billion. To this day, many of us have not received our severance pay despite serving for over 35 years.”

Comrade Essien, one of the dockworkers, alleged a large number of pension underpayments:

“The least dockworker earned ₦120,000 per month. Over 10 years, my pension should be ₦14.4 million, yet ENL is offering just ₦200,000.”
Furthermore,

Comrade Monday Young Jack, a 34-year professional crane operator, accused ENL of underpaying his pension:

“I earned ₦150,000 per month. My pension should be ₦1.8 million over 10 years, but they insist I accept ₦200,000.”

Dockworkers claim that the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) leadership has been hijacked by non-dockworkers, led by Comrade Adewale Adeyanju.

“The union manipulated processes, labeled us criminals, and influenced regulatory bodies against us,” said Comrade Bruce Ikodina.

Comrade Ola Muibi also recounted an attack at Ikeja Magistrate Court on February 27, 2015:

“Comrade Adewale Adeyanju stormed the court with thugs and beat me unconscious. Sahara Reporters captured me in a pool of blood.”

The International Dockworkers Council (IDC) has condemned the alleged mistreatment of Nigerian dockworkers.

The Nigerian dockworkers have taken to the Igbosere Court of Appeal to voice their grievances over unpaid salaries and pension arrears and what they described as exploitative leadership within the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).

The Bureau of African Labour, Human and Democratic Rights (BALHADER) called out ENL Limited over its failure to remit pensions for over 10 years, which have led to tensions between dockworkers and terminal operators.

Over 5,000 members of MWUN, who were allegedly unlawfully removed from the nation’s seaports, participated in the protest, carrying banners with inscriptions such as: “Vicky Haastrup, the Executive Chairman of ENL Consortium Limited, pay our money.” Another read: “Say no to slavery in Nigeria’s seaports (Dockworkers).” Protesters also decried the non-payment of their five-year unremitted pension, stating that they have been pleading with the Nigerian government since 2016 to intervene in the matter.

Comrade Afolabi, one of the affected workers, explained that over 700 dockworkers were sacked between 2008 and 2013. The legal case began in 2016, with the National Industrial Court ruling in favour of the workers. However, ENL filed a stay of execution for five years before appealing the judgment in October 2024.

Comrade Amos Olatunji Peters expressed his grievance: “We are asking the Court of Appeal to compel ENL to pay our colleagues what is due to them.”

The dockworkers’ demands include:

Yearly Terminal Benefit: Each worker was entitled to ₦350,000 per year, but ENL allegedly paid only one year, leaving a deficit of ₦3,150,000 per worker.

AP Moller’s Unpaid Benefits: In 2008, AP Moller reportedly dismissed 546 dockworkers without terminal benefits or pensions.

Comrade Bernard Lobito, a recently retired dockworker from the Sifax Group Container Terminal, expressed his dissatisfaction with the treatment of Nigerian dockworkers.

“I worked as a dockworker for over 28 years, including 12 years with Sifax Group, yet I was treated as a modern-day slave. Core dockworkers earn stipends of about N70,000 or N50,000, while stevedore managers and administrative staff receive far higher salaries. My retirement payoff was greatly lower than that of an administrative retiree from the same company.”

The Chairman of the Over 5000 MWUN group shared his high hopes about forthcoming changes, stating that by the end of March 2025, a new worker-oriented leadership will take over the union to prioritize workers’ welfare.

The dockworkers also cited a legal battle, where 580 sacked workers are challenging their dismissal by ENL Consortium at the court.

Comrade Uchenna Uzoije, Programme Director of BALHADER, warned of great consequences if the Nigerian government ignores statements from the International Dockworkers Council regarding the mistreatment of Nigerian dockworkers.

“The presidency must act swiftly to restore legitimacy to MWUN by ensuring a caretaker committee takes charge by March 2025,” he stated.

Dockworkers also lamented the stark wage disparity between Nigerian and international workers. According to them, professional dockworkers in the U.S. and Europe earn between $85,000 to $120,000 annually, while those in South Africa and North Africa earn approximately $60,000.

However, Nigerian dockworkers are paid in meager naira amounts despite the fact that seaport transactions are conducted in dollars.

Comrade Yomi Adeoti accused the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of collaborating with MWUN leadership to deny him compensation for an injury sustained while working onboard the vessel Invincible IMO. “BALHADER wrote to the International Labour Organization (ILO) on my behalf, and they responded by requesting NLC’s intervention. However, NLC falsely claimed that I never sustained any injury and denied knowing BALHADER,” Adeoti alleged, adding that he remains uncompensated to date.

It was also revealed from the protest that there is shortfall in severance payments for dockworkers who were disengaged in 2006. According to Comrade Haruna Muktari, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Adebayo Sarunmi, had initially approved N586,000 per dockworker from the World Bank’s $100 million privatization support fund. However, only N200,000 was disbursed to each worker, leaving a deficit of N4.7 billion.

Comrade Aliu Mohammed, speaking on behalf of disengaged POOL Dockworkers, accused the NPA of inefficiency.

He noted that in 2019, after four years of being left without work, the 1,685 affected tally clerks and onboard security personnel were forced to accept a paltry N400,000 as full severance. “The Federal Government initially approved N3.4 billion for our severance but later claimed the amount was reduced to N1.84 billion. To this day, many of us have not received our severance pay despite serving for over 35 years.”

Comrade Essien, one of the dockworkers, alleged a large number of pension underpayments:

“The least dockworker earned ₦120,000 per month. Over 10 years, my pension should be ₦14.4 million, yet ENL is offering just ₦200,000.”
Furthermore,

Comrade Monday Young Jack, a 34-year professional crane operator, accused ENL of underpaying his pension:

“I earned ₦150,000 per month. My pension should be ₦1.8 million over 10 years, but they insist I accept ₦200,000.”

Dockworkers claim that the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) leadership has been hijacked by non-dockworkers, led by Comrade Adewale Adeyanju.

“The union manipulated processes, labeled us criminals, and influenced regulatory bodies against us,” said Comrade Bruce Ikodina.

Comrade Ola Muibi also recounted an attack at Ikeja Magistrate Court on February 27, 2015:

“Comrade Adewale Adeyanju stormed the court with thugs and beat me unconscious. Sahara Reporters captured me in a pool of blood.”

The International Dockworkers Council (IDC) has condemned the alleged mistreatment of Nigerian dockworkers.