The President General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, on Friday, issued a stern warning to the management of Lekki Freeport Terminal (LFT), cautioning against employing expatriates for jobs designated for Nigerians.
During a working visit to the port alongside the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, Adeyanju emphasized the importance of adhering to Nigeria’s local content laws and the Cabotage Act to prevent labor unrest.
“We will not tolerate expatriates disrespecting Nigerian workers or taking over roles Nigerians are fully capable of handling. Our members possess the required expertise in terminal operations,” Adeyanju stated.
As the Deputy President of the NLC, Adeyanju pointed out that workers currently at LFT were carefully selected professionals with vast experience from other terminals across the country. He criticized any attempt to undermine their competence and warned against turning the terminal into a “battleground.”
“I have visited other countries, and they respect their local workers. Jobs that Nigerians can do should be given to them. The law is clear on this,” he said.
Adeyanju also urged the terminal management to respect established working hours, emphasizing that any extra hours worked must be regarded as overtime and appropriately compensated.
“We’re not against the inclusion of expatriates, but Nigerians must not be sidelined for roles they are qualified to fill. Respect the work schedule and reward workers for extra hours worked,” he added.
In his remarks, NLC President Joe Ajaero echoed Adeyanju’s concerns and urged the management to heed the union’s warnings to prevent potential industrial crises.
“The union’s concerns should be treated as an early alert. Avoid actions that could disrupt operations. Cooperation between the workforce and management is essential to ensure the port’s success,” Ajaero advised.
Responding, LFT Managing Director Christophe Cassagne assured the union of the terminal’s commitment to maintaining peace and addressing the concerns raised.
“We acknowledge the issues highlighted by the union and will work on resolving them to sustain harmony between management and workers,” Cassagne stated.
