...Attempts Acquisition Of Mobil Pegasus , Apapa
The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr Bashir Jamoh has disclosed that the agency is working round the clock to provide a befitting Seafarers Center for members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) in Lagos.
The NIMASA boss stated this on Monday at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of MWUN held in Festac Town, Lagos.
According to Dr Jamoh, NIMASA had made efforts to aquire a property in Apapa; Mobil Pegasus, and planned to turn it into a seafarers centre, but that the owners of the property changed their minds.
He however assure that NIMASA would deliver on the project soon.
Jamoh who was responding to demands by MWUN for the creation of the seafarers pool which can be utilized by both local and international seafarers, also assured the leadership of the union that payment of pension to aged seafarers is being worked upon with support of the Minister of Transportation, Eng Muazu Jaji Sambo.
The DG NIMASA , while assuring the union of the pledged noted that after the December festivities, the efforts would yield results.
Speaking earlier, President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju his welcome address called for a national transport Policy for the overall development of the country.
The union leader urged the NIMASA to put the CVFF to a good work of procuring more vessels to provide employment for the teeming National Seafarers Development Programme cadet trainees.
The MWUN President General noted that employees of Shipping companies in Nigeria are being treated badly with very poor terms of engagement and Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
“We must therefore begin to consider and institute a working NJIC for the shipping sector. It has therefore become important that we take action to get respect and dignity for our members in the shipping sector with the view to alleviate their pain and suffering.
“This is why it is important to stress that agreements, collective bargaining, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are necessary tools which should be held holy and complied to always when they are reached.
He noted that the lack of a clear-cut maritime policy is a major factor affecting the concessioning programme as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) seems to lack the statutory basis to checkmate the private terminal operators.
“We enjoin the necessary authority to correct this anomaly, as port operators without a regulatory body pose enormous danger to port users and non development of our exporting ability
“As workers in the transport sector, we yearn for seamless movement of people and goods from one point to another to boost our economy and stimulate social integration. Unfortunately, this desire is hampered clearly by our nation’s lack of a clear transport policy. It is obviously now necessary that, Nigeria develops a sustainable national integrated transport policy to serve as a catalyst to the overall development of the country” he said
The MWUN commended the Minister of Transportation, Eng Muazu Jaji Sambo for securing President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent for the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF)
By Roland Ekama
