Maritime workers resume strike in Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State unit of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has resumed an indefinite strike action to protest insecurity along the waterways in the state.

The union had suspended the industrial action over assurances from the state government to improve security along the waterways to deter attacks by sea pirates and kidnappers.

BusinessDay gathered that the strike action has seriously affected commercial activities in the state as the union ensured that popular jetties were shut to travelers.

Jetties at the Swali ultra modern market, Onuebum, Ogbia town and Oloibiri were crowded by disappointed travelers as the union’s action came into effect on Monday.

Lloyd Sese, state chairman of MWUN, explained that their action was due to the inability of the state government to tackle the menace of sea pirates which have seriously affected marine transport in the state.

Sese lamented that a task force on marine security set up by the state government to address insecurity along the waterways failed woefully.

Aside that, the union is also asking for inclusion in the federal and state government Subsidy Re-investment Programme as members have not benefitted from the programme since it was introduced over two years ago.