MWUN Advocates Revamping Of Seafarers Pool System, Laments Non Issuance Of SID
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has advocated the revamping of Seafarers Pool system in furtherance to boost manpower development and job creation for seamen in Nigeria.
The union also called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) reduce the high cost of obtaining discharge certificates and provide the necessary Seafarers Identity Documents (SID) for workers.
The Seafarers’ Identity Documents(SID) Convention, 1958 is an International Labour Organization Convention.
President General of the union, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju ,while speaking at the 5th Quandriennal Delegates Conference 2021 of the Seamen/NIWA,Water Transport Branch also harped on the need for the federal government to revamp the Nigerian National Shipping Lines (NNSL) pointing out that a large number of able seamen would be engaged onboard her national pride if revived.
Adeyanju called on NIMASA to seat up and bring Nigerian seafarers to parity with their foreign counterparts lamenting that the alarming rates of foreign dominance in the nation’s territorial waters was worrisome.
The Union boss maintained that lack of Seafarers Pool, high cost of acquiring medical certificate and non enforcement of the cabotage act are the major problems currently faced by Nigerian seamen.
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He maintained that the foremost national training academy; the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, Akwa Ibom state needs all the necessary support to compete favourably with their foreign counterparts.
According to him, funding and upgrading of training facilities at the MAN Oron, to global standard should be given upmost priority to bridge the yearning gap in manpower development.
“We call on NIMASA as the government regulator agent of seafarers to seat up and do the needful to bring Nigerian seafarers to parity with their counterparts elsewhere in the world.
“We also call for the re-awakening of the Seafarers Pool system which is overdue.
It is important to also call on a lowering of the high cost of obtaining discharge certificates.”
The union boss who also spoke on the sideline shortly after the election, disclosed that plans are afoot to ensure that the outstation districts equate what is obtainable in Lagos zone.
He reiterated that the government should start the process on payment of pensions onboard the defunct NNSL noting the seafarers that served the nation are living in penury.
By Roland Ekama
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