MWUN Pledges Support for New NPA MD, Honours Lagos Port Manager, Okaga, EX NPA ED, Brown
By Ranmilowo Ojalumo
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has promised to support the new managing Director of the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho to achieve the nation’s port objectives.
The president General of the union, Comrade (Dr.) Adewale Adeyanju, made the pledge on Friday when the union hosted the former Executive Director, Marine and Operations, NPA, Onari Brown and the Port Manager, Lagos Port Complex Apapa, Charles Bamidele Okaga at the Union Secretariat in Lagos.
The august gathering was put together to celebrate Brown and Bar Okaga, for their support to the union and contributions to the port operation across the country over the years.
While speaking at the event, Adeyanju who is also the Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), pointed out that the union has been reformed, insisting that members of the union are no longer area boys. He said the union will continue to be reformed and also be a reformer.
He charged the new NPA managing director to be workers friendly. He however urged the new NPA boss not to listen to sycophants, adding that the union is ready to support any reform in the port.
Adeyenju specifically commended Brown and Okaga for having the interest of workers at heart. He described Charles Okaga as a technocrat who studies cargoes very well, adding that he is a peaceful man who never gets disconnected from workers and from the Union.
Adeanju also praised Brown for his good work while he was in the office. ”Onari Brown is a wonderful leader who has assisted MWUN in many ways. We are not praise singers and we don’t worship employers but we worship those ones that are good and we recognize those that are workers friendly who pay our wages as at when due. Since the beginning of this Union, Onari Brown is the second Executive Director that has visited the Union.”
“There are good managers in NPA, but the bad managers in NPA should learn from the good ones like Bar Okaga”, Adeyanju said.
Reacting to the honour given to him by MWUN, Bar Okaga commended the union for the warm welcome and the efforts of the President General to build the union. He described the reception as overwhelming and beyond his wildest imagination because it was never solicited and he never expected it.
He described MWUN president general as a PG of accomplishment and landmark, highly effective and productive. “MWUN is synonymous with NPA. It sees dock labour work as a work that does not stop at the dock. It is now moving in line with the movement of Nigeria Economic Frontier outside of the immediate Board. It has been working hand in hand with NPA consistently to promote progress and take care of seafarers and dock workers.
While commending Brown for his good work while in office, the Apapa Port Manager described him as an upright person. ”I believe that Onari Brown is prepared for higher responsibilities”, Okaga said, adding that Brown has taught many people that position must not separate everyone from his root.”
Also speaking at the occasion, Brown commended Adeyanju and every member of the union for their support while he was in the office.
Brown stated that surprised that MWUN could honour him in such an honorable way after seven months of leaving office. Describing Adeyanju as a man of integrity, Brown however urged the leadership of the union to work with the newly appointed managing Director of NPA. He also urged the leadership of the union to support his successor the way they supported him while in the office.
