NIMASA CoC Continues To Depreciate In Foreign Port States, As Seafarers Insist Certificates Not Acceptable
The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA) has expressed worries over the non acceptability of interim certificates issued by the federal government through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to Nigerian seafarers’.
The seafarers union, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) reiterated that port states of other countries and shipping companies operating in the nation’s territorial waters frown at Certificate of Competency (COC) issued by the apex regulatory agency.
Speaking at the 3rd edition of the annual Seafarers’Colloquium held on Friday June 23rd in Lagos, National President NMNOWTSSA , Comrade Bob Yousou reiterated that one of the challenging issues currently faced by seafarers’ in Nigeria still concerns delay in the signing of the CoC by NIMASA despite the neglect by operators, stressing that these singular act has resulted to massive job loss.
Yousou lamented that the depreciating CoC issued by NIMASA has led to poor remuneration and delay in the payment of workers wages ; adding that some shipping companies pay Nigerian seafarers’ non commensurate wages when compared to their foreign counterpart with same certificate.
According to him, the gap has been too wide to imaging, calling on the regulatory agency to ensure that Nigerian seafarers’ are paid as of when due and paid well.
In line with international best practices, the National President urged NIMASA examiners to sign the certificate instead of the Chief Executive Officer of the regulatory agency in furtherance to avoid delay of the CoC issuance.
While appealing for the regulator to look inward and make adjustments toward accelerated process of the signatory, he noted that “It is our request that this be reciprocated in Nigeria so as to avoid delay in signing of CoC as a result of tight schedule of the CEO of NIMASA.
He added that:”Some shipping companies pay Nigeria seafarers non commensurate wages compared to their foreign counterpart with the same CoC and perform same duties. While acknowledging the fact that there should be disparity ,in our case the gap is too wide to image .
“We appeal to shipping companies and NIMASA as the regulatory agency to ensure Nigeria Seafarers’are paid as of when due, pointing out that .
The 3rd Annual Seafarers Day Colloquium in commemoration to the World Seafarers Day is put together by the NMNOWTSSA and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) .
Harping on the year’s theme in commemoration to the Seafarers’day celebration with theme “Seafarers Contribution to Protecting the
Maritime Environment”, in line with the World Maritime theme MARPOL @ 50- our commitment Goes on”, Yousou tasked seafarers’ to assist in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem urging the seamen to avoid polluting the waters either by dropping waste products oiling materials or things that are harmful to humans,plants and animals at sea or ocean.
He said”It is very important for seafarers’to abide by actions that help in protecting the maritime environment for the purpose of climate change.
” Water covering of the earth’s surface, the ocean transports heat from the equator to the poles, it regulates our climate and weather pattern. The need therefore for seafarers’ activities to be supportive of good climate.”the National President expressed.
By Roland Ekama
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