AT NASS : Maritime Unions Seek Inclusion To NIMASA Governing Board

Last updated Mar 16, 2022

Lynda Ikpeazu ( sitting) chatting with the DG NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh during a session at the National Assembly in Abuja

By Roland Ekama

The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA) and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have indicated interest to be included in constituting the governing board of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

The unions said inclusion of the governing board members of NIMASA should be repeal as spelt out in the JOMALIC Act.

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The unions made this declaration during the public hearing on some maritime bills at the National Assembly Complex Abuja on Tuesday.

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The Maritime stakeholders were unanimous in their support for the Merchant Shipping Act, Repeal and Enactment Bill 2021 during the public hearing today at the National Assembly complex Abuja ..

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) groups however were silence on the bill seeking the establishment of maritime development bank.

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The senior and junior unions from the maritime industry further canvassed to be instituted in the bills in line with International Labour Organization (ILO) tripartite nature as well as trade unions act (jurisdictional scope).

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They also clamoured for the establishment of maritime labour pools across the littoral states for both seafarers and dockworkers, even as they stressed the need multilateral agreement with the international shipping community and acceptance and recognition of the nation’s Certificate of Competency (COC).

They also declared that the mutual recognition of Certificate of Competency should be considered in line with regulation 1/10 of STCW Convention.

“In line with the STCW & Manila convention, our COCs should carry the tonnage capacity of the vessels eg greater or less than instead of the NCV that limit us from cabotage trade.

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“In line with the MLC 2006 as amended Seafarers representative should be involved in Seafarers matters, employment, engagement and other welfare and well being matters,”they added .

The national president, NMNOWTSSA, Comrade Bob Yousou and the President General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Adewale Adeyanju represented the two unions at the day’s National Assembly in Abuja.