The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has issued a stern warning of a potential strike if the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding (CRFFN) fails to address the nine-month salary arrears owed to its members.
This announcement comes amidst growing concerns of an impending industrial crisis within the maritime sector.
In a statement released by Deputy Secretary-General Oniha Erazua, the union expressed frustration at the CRFFN’s management, which has reportedly ignored multiple attempts to resolve the issue amicably.
“Despite several ultimatums and mediatory meetings, including the most recent held in Abuja on September 18, 2024, the CRFFN has failed to honor its commitments to staff welfare,” Erazua stated.
He highlighted that a prior resolution mandated the allocation of available funds to settle staff salaries before other expenses.
“The continued disregard for this agreement reflects a nonchalant attitude towards the welfare of employees,” Erazua added, pointing out that the CRFFN has organized selective training programs while neglecting salary payments.
Should the situation remain unresolved, Erazua warned, “We would be forced to withdraw the services of our members, impacting operations at the Nigerian Ports Authority and various shipping and freight forwarding agencies nationwide.”
A source close to CRFFN confirmed the union’s claims, noting that since the government removed CRFFN from the budget in January, employees have struggled without salaries.
“They managed to pay January’s salary around May, but since then, nothing has been paid. Even that payment was inconsistent,” the source revealed, emphasizing the understanding displayed by staff members despite the ongoing challenges.
Efforts to reach the acting Registrar of CRFFN, Mrs. Cicilia Uromta, for comment were unsuccessful as she did not respond to calls or messages at the time of this report.
