INTERVIEW: Why I chose Francis Bunu to succeed me as the next MWUN PG – Comrade Adewale Adeyanju 

 

 

Segun Oladipupo

 

Comrade Adewale Adeyanju is the President General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN). Comrade Adeyanju emerged the President General for the first term in 2017 when he beat one other candidate to clinch the exalted seat

 

He emerged for the second term unopposed in 2021 delegates convention which held in Lagos

 

Since assumption of office, the highly cerebral leader has engendered many innovations leading to improved welfare for the four branches of the union

 

Chief among his achievements is engagement with management’s of shipping companies to sign an life saving welfare package for the workers in the sector.

 

In this interview with journalists in his office, Adeyanju who is also the first Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), revealed some of his score cards as well as the unusual steps he took to bring sanity to the union which was hitherto noted for hooligans.

 

He explained why he chose Comrade  Francis Bunu, as his successor.

 

He bared his mind on many issues in this explosive interview.

 

Excerpts

 

 

 

Question: What would you say are your major achievements?

 

 

Let me first of thank all of you for the support you have given us during the past eight years that you have been working with us. I thank all the journalists for the success so far recorded in the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria.

 

The key to these achievements has to do with the passion that you have for the job. When you know what you are doing, I don’t think you’ll have any problem. You know the name tagging of those days, “Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria, don’t near them. They are not responsible people, they are thugs, they are this, they are that.” All of that has changed today. We have been transformed, and we have transfered that transformation to our members.

 

I have four branches under my command, The Nigerian Port Authority, the Dockworkers, the Shipping, and the Seafarers. So the bottom line of this success has to do with having responsible executive officers working with you.

 

The role I play is just a supervisory role and if i’m not doing it well, I don’t think the accolades coming from both left and right will be given to Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria. And that goes to all of you too journalists, who have been reporting us objectively.

 

Yes, what gave birth to this success story was as a result of having what we call condition of service. Over the years, dock workers do not have condition of service. And I started along with likes mind who believe there is need for us to improve the wages and working  conditions of the workers.

 

As it is now, dock workers have condition of service midwifed by NIMASA and witnessed by all stakeholders. And we review it every two years. So, dock workers know their left from their rights now. Unlike before, you can just pick anybody on the road as a dock worker. That is no longer there again. Now, you have to write an application before you can be gainfully employed as a dock worker.

 

Connectivity with the workers and the employers is also crucial because you cannot do it alone without the support from the workers.

 

When I came on board, I declared a state of emergency in shipping and you know what came out of it Today, we have what we call minimum standard in shipping, duly signed by all the stakeholders. Before now, what we have in shipping is what we call slave labor.

 

An average worker in shipping then was receiving nothing less than N20,000 or N30,000. But the way it is now, we have minimum standard that it can be more than N200,000.

 

As a newcomer in shipping, that is one of my greatest achievements because I met this matter on ground when I became the President General. Two past President Generals have been on it, but they were unable to break through it. However, with the support of everybody and my executives, we were able to break through and we succeeded.

And you know what happened in Nigerian Ports Authority? There was no salary increment for 18 good years. We made a case for the workers and they reviewed their salary. As I’m talking to you now, they are reviewing the salary again. Those are parts of the success story that I think we are talking about today.

 

If you talk about the seafarers branch too, we have the National Joint Industrial Council ( NJIC) agreement to improve the working conditions of seafarers.

So we have done what I think is expected of us as representative of the workers.

 

We also have grants coming from the International Transport Workers Federation ( ITF). It is the first of its kind in the whole of Africa that we should have what we call a multi-purpose recreation center for seafarers and the dockworkers. So very soon, we are going to lay the foundation because the Minister of Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola has graciously approved that there is a need for NIMASA to give us a befitting land where that grant will be used. ITF cannot just give you grant if they don’t believe in what we are doing, and they don’t believe in Nigeria These are part of the achievements and i’m always happy anytime I remember the grant because other African countries too have been waiting for it.

But they said no, we must give it to Nigeria. So we are just an ambassador representing this country in the seat of ITF Global.

 

The peace we enjoy in the Union is also part of the achievement. Election is less than three weeks now, you’ve not heard of anybody making trouble. You’ve not heard people fighting themselves. It is because we are now running scientific unionism. It’s no longer the way it was before where election of Maritime Worker of Nigeria will be coming, and you will be interviewing me like this.You will even be afraid of coming to my office.

 

Before I came on board as President General, I’ve worked with various leaders and I was able to learn from their good side. So the achievements we’ve recorded are so enormous. I cannot blow my trumpet, let the workers blow the trumpet on my behalf.

 

 

 

 

Question: What’s the update on hub- Lyth shipping company?

 

 

 

I raised an alarm against the company and as we speak, the matter has been settled. The company has said it’s  going to be part of the agreement.

 

The employer wrote back to us and said, yes, he has concurred because we reported him to the authority,  So he has complied.

 

The Executive Secretary of Shippers’ Council, Dr. Pius Akhtar has already set up an implementation committee on the minimum standards  agreement, so there’s no shipping company that will run away from their responsibility because it was signed and witnessed by the Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, and it has been sealed. And the chairperson of the association, Barrister Boma Alabi,is a lawyer, so they know the implication of one person saying he’s not a member of the association. So, we have resolved the matter.

 

 

Question: What would you attribute these feats to?

 

 

 

Well, I would thank my God and I would thank my leaders that gave me this environment to be able to explore what I’ve learned from them. So, without them, I won’t be where I am today. And if God is not there for me, I can’t be proud to move on the streets of Lagos and say, yes, I’m the representative of the maritime workers.

 

I am fulfilled with what I have done for the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria. The role I am going to play this time around is to be a supervisor, and to advise.

 

I am occupying an international office  under Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria. So I still have a role to play by way of advising them in International Transport Workers Federation ( ITF) so that we can continue to showcase the name of MWUN. So, I am fulfilled.

 

However, I hope to say in the next 10 years, Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria can stand on its own and tell the whole world that we have arrived. The process of arriving, to talk to the whole world, have been put in place. As the Vice President, ITF global  where I was elected as the only black man among almost 140 million affiliates only shows that we have been tested, trusted, and believed. So the union is on the pathway  of this process of talking to the whole world. The maritime workers Union in Nigeria is representing the whole of Africa. We are equally an executive board member of ITF. So we are already on the move to tell the world that don’t call us that name of the past. If you call us that name, we will sue you to court.

 

 

 

 

Question: This is the first time in the history of election in MWUN that candidates have stepped down for a single individual. How did you achieve this?

 

 

 

 

I believe unionism has evolved beyond seeing office as a means to make money before you serve people.

 

The moment you prioritize financial gains, you compromise your ability to effectively lead.

 

Yes, there can be disagreement but we believe we are one union. Since we aspire to be a union comparable to any globally, why create unnecessary conflict? Four years is just like a minute, in the eyes of God.

 

Why not allow the process of bringing in another executive to proceed smoothly after my term? That’s precisely what we did. Previously, we might have had 10 or 15 candidates vying for a single position. However, we have now achieved harmony because we understand ourselves.

 

So we have decided to eliminate the situation where 5-10 candidates  contest for one office and our approach is very clear.

 

Very, very clear. We are implementing a rotational system.The dock workers and the NPA branches are going to come back again to govern the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria until the remaining two branches have had their opportunity.  That is why we decided to start with the seafarers branch, which hasn’t had the chance to lead.

 

When two or three persons initially expressed interest in contesting, we allowed them to proceed. We didn’t discourage anyone from participating. However, they willingly withdrew after observing the situation, recognizing my leadership and respect for the Union. They believed in my vision, which led them to step down.

We want to avoid repeating the disruptions and unnecessary crisis that plagued the Union years back.

 

Of course some individuals might feel entitled to contest, but as you can see the current atmosphere is calm unlike in the past.

I have held various positions within the Union, including Treasurer, President of dockworker before becoming President General. Now, I have successfully conducted elections for the four branches of this great union.

So I understand the intricacies and mechanism of elections. I have engaged with individuals, encouraging them to cooperate and allow a smooth transition of leadership.

 

 

 

Question: Why the choice of Comrade Francis Bunu as your preferred candidate?

 

 

 

Francis Bunu is a sellable candidate and he’s somebody that believes in the welfare of the workers. He has been with me for about 20 to 25 years. So, I know his pedigree and I know what he can do.

 

Almost all the contestants are presentable but I must pick one. I must support one. But I see quality in Bunu as a leader. And that’s why I say, yes, he is the candidate for the seat.

 

He’s not the leader that will cause problem when there’s none. I believe he will continue from the achievement that we have made on behalf of all the four branches. He’s also a member of ITF.

 

So, the experience he has gotten from me and other leaders, I believe will help him to pilot the affairs of this great union.

So, I don’t think I am making a mistake of having a preferred candidate because I need to bring someone who is very articulate and knows the job. Bunu is an experienced worker and a good negotiator who will not betray the loyalty of the workers.

 

It is one thing for you to be elected.It is another thing for you to have the interest of the workers in your heart. All my life I’m being struggling  to defend the welfare of the workers. That’s the kind of person my successor is. I believe he will achieve more than I have done. That is my prayers.

 

When you have a child, you pray for your child to do more than you. So, when I pray for my incoming president general to do more than me,  the success achieved will be his own. Like the success that everybody is talking about me today.

 

So, we will continue to advise when necessary. We will continue to tell them that that era of crisis, that era of allowing people to give us bad names, is no longer in the history of MWUN.

 

If you are talking about the success story or talking about our achievement, we cannot do it without the terminal operators.

 

They came in and changed the narrative of the past. Because it was when the terminal operators came in, we were able to know our left from our right. All of us believe in this name called akube.

 

When there is no standard, no regulations. But the way it is now, the terminal operators sat with us, and we are moving forward. So, the union is moving forward.

 

And the workers today, they are happy. They are happy. Because you soon know your take-home.

 

But you cannot do it all. And that’s why we are saying a successor must come. And a good leader must have a successor.

 

So, for the past three years, I’ve been grooming my successor. And it’s not going to be like I don’t know you. I do more than that.

 

According to reports everywhere, you are the first to run a seamless, a crisis-free election. And it’s the problem of this nation. So, what is the leadership style you use to have done this?

 

It’s about humble yourself. When you equally transform yourself,

 

 

I will not fulfilled in this interaction, if you fail to tell us, the secretariat, which happens to be your achievements. Can you please tell us, starting at the beginning of this project, give us an insight, what we need to know about the secretariat, what we need to achieve.

 

 

The secretariat, what I meant here, I think, is about illegal activities. If everybody is talking about maritime workers, not Nigeria, it has to do with the workers. The secretariat staff, they have been so wonderful.

 

They are one of the best materials that I’ve met, and I was able to utilize them properly. I came in here, the structure of the building was… And I believe the image of the union should be recognized properly. You have to change it from what they normally call you for.

 

And that is what we did. You can see the other building too. You can see where we are today.

 

The table they were using here before is what I met. I met the table. And I can tell you, and I came as it is, we changed everything.

 

But it’s part of telling the whole world that, yes, a leader must have a taste. If they call you President, and you are able to see that outside that place, it is quite an opportunity. And that’s what we have done.

 

The staff of Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria, they are the best people you can work with if you give them the enabler environment for them to operate. And you see recently I have to start promoting all of them for what they have done for me, for what they have done for the union, and that’s what we did.

 

 

 

Question: You have travelled this journey for eight years. Though you have been coming as a leader, you have travelled this journey for eight years. You have met many people.

 

Now, you have moments, beautiful moments and moments you don’t want to see. Can you share these two moments with us? What you want to remember and smile when you remember that one? And the moments you don’t want to remember at all because they are not bringing joy. Can you share those moments with us? The moment I have disagreement with my people.

 

 

 

 

 

Disagreement about the job. I work for the union and I’m not here to use the union to make money. I connect with all the workers, with all my members.

 

I believe in connectivity between the poor and the rich. That is my joy all the time. And the way I used to interact with them.

 

In the morning, when there’s any of the staff that’s trying to mess up, either you’re a national officer or whatever, I will give it to you. I say, don’t worry about it. If I didn’t do it right, they will say, yeah, the man has a bag of stone.

 

We don’t even know where the brothers come from. I need to let them know that unionism is not where you sit down and start laughing and start playing. No.

 

It’s about being proactive, being able to tell the people that it’s like a soldier walk. That’s unionism. It’s like a soldier walk.

 

So you can’t sit down and say, yes, I’m the president of dockworkers. When you know they are like a soldier, soldier hires, they can overwhelm you with multiple problems. They can tell you, yes, we don’t want you in this office.

 

So you have to behave like them. A leader must behave like a walker. Don’t see yourself as a professor.

 

Don’t see yourself as a dictator. You’re also a soldier hire. You are part of them.

 

So, and I’m part of dockworkers. If they’ve started their trouble, I know how to manage them. I will not run away from them.

 

Because when you run away from dock workers, you lose your credibility. So even if they are fighting me here now, I will be looking at them. Because they know I’m going to pay them back.

 

So you must have this shock absorber to absorb whatever crisis that is coming from left and right.