MWUN Advocates FG’s Close Monitoring Of CVFF Disbursement To Ship Owners

The Maritime.Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has called the federal government to ensure that upon  disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), beneficiaries should be closely monitored on the acquisition of ships in order for them not to squander the already depleted resources.

President General of MWUN Comrade Adewale Adeyanju in a chat with newsmen on Thursday,in Lagos noted that the CVFF initiative was laudable, noting that members of the Seamen and Water Transport Branch of the union would benefit from the project immensely if disbursed adequately.

Adeyanju also called on indigenous  ship owners who might benefit from the project to be prudent , thus not to be involved in politics by way of spending the disbursed fund on elections  adding that the motive of the CVFF is meant for vessel acquisition.

With affirmation  that CVFF disbursement would further better the lots of seafarers , he called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to monitor how and ways the fund are spent for ships acquisition.

He stated that :”Our position is clear on CVFF disbursement to Indigenous ship owners in line with the Cabotage Act.

“We will still continue to appreciate the government on the recent moves to disburse the fund to Nigerians.

“Our members will benefit from the CVFF once the vessels are purchased because they (seafarers) will be employed to work upon those vessels . Again, it will help the cadets that were sent aboard for the National Seafarers Development Programme project.

“Our worry is that the ship owners should make good use of the CVFF and not to use it for tea party or marry more wives.

“They should also ensure that the fund is meant for the purpose it is aimed to promote because some might use it for political campaigns which negates the essence of the disbursement,” Adeyanju advised .

However, the union boss applauded the federal government for the moves to disburse CVFF pointing out that the Nigerians should be encouraged on ship acquisition .”