The National Seafarers Welfare Board in Nigeria (NSWBN) has expressed worries over the poor renumeration for Nigerian seafarers’ against their foreign counterparts onboard ships , even as it called for government intervention in line with the minimum wages standard requirements.
The welfare board in Nigeria also expressed concerns over the unfavourable Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the seafarers,saying the sailors play critical role to world trade, hence must be motivated
Legal Adviser of NSWBN, Barrister Osuala Emmanuel Nwagbara who disclosed this on Sunday in Lagos during the World Seafarers Day celebration held at Tin Can Island Port Complex, assured that the welfare board will continue to enlighten seamen about their right against any form of intimidation from employers.
According to him, no seafarers’ should earn less than a thousand dollars as minimum wage because of the hazards and psychology effects faced by them.
Nwagbara who doubles as Chairman of the occasion, further called on the federal government to include maritime stakeholders in investigative panels on issues bothering on safety and accidents of vessels operating on the nation’s territorial waters, adding that government cannot do it all alone to get positive results out of such occurrences.
Nwagbara lamented that safety of crew and the vessels must be prioritized by government regulatory agencies adding that experiences by seafarers’ at sea have shown that there was need to up the ante in enforcement and preventive mechanism .
According to the maritime lawyer, “Investigations should not be limited to government officials when it comes to accident onboard vessels, investigation should not be limited to the company, or government officials but also stakeholders should be involved based on what we heard from the seafarers ‘today.
“Safety is everybody’s concerns therefore maritime lawyers, marine engineers, even the unions should be involved in the investigative panels when issues of such arises and those found guilty should be penalised squarely .
“Beyond that seafarers should know that they have the right to challenge ship owners when it comes to negligence. So on the issues of safety, I think government should take it seriously and involve experts as well”,he added.
On his part Chairman, Board of Trustees – NSWBN, Alhaji Ahmed Ramalan in his goodwill message, said global statistics shows that about 2 million seafarers are onboard over 50,000 ships trading across the world’s oceans.
Ramalan noted that as seafarers’ navigate the seas, they come in contact with nature and the habitats therein., adding that the theme for the year focuses on the marine environment thus the shipping activities impacted nature and the habitats.
The Chairman in the message stated that “Happy Seafarers Day. I am pleased to welcome you all to the special day of June 25th dedicated to the Global Seafarers in recognition of their immense contributions to Global trade. Global Statistics show that about 2 million seafarers are onboard over 50,000 ships trading across the world’s oceans.
“As they navigate the seas, they come in contact with Nature and the habitats therein. The theme for this year focuses on the marine environment and, in my view, how the shipping activities impacted Nature. Indeed if well preserved, there is so much to benefit from the ocean’s resources.
“In the Nigerian Inland, Coastal and Sea, for example, Hydrocarbon is one of the Country’s primary sources of revenue, among many others from the ocean.
“As seafarers share their experiences in today’s program put together by the National Seafarers Welfare Board of Nigeria, I would like to add that we take note of those experiences and then reflect on what we can do to preserve and sustain the resources for the betterment of our Country and indeed the world over.
Also speaking, President of the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA), Comrade Bob Yousou called on the welfare board to carry seafarers’ along in future events.
Yousou who was represented by the National Treasurer, Comrade Reginald Onyenobi, lauded the spiritual aspect of the programme, noting that catholic mass was a welcome development in the lives of seafarers’.
The President called on the regulatory agencies to exempt seafarers’ from tax payment due to the cumbersome nature of the job .
Similarly, Deputy Director, Maritime Labour Service, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Yetunde Collins in her remarks , described seafarers’ as pillar for the agency’s operations.
Collins stated that without seafarers’, the apex maritime regulatory agency will not be in existence, pointing out that the seamen play critical role in NIMASA operations.
She further commended the Nigerian seafarers’ for their immense contributions in global trade, assuring that the experiences shared by aged and young seafarers will be discussed at management meetings.
However, Chaplain, Mission To Seafarers (MTS) Reverend Francis Abimbola Aduroja called on stakeholders to continuously pray for seafarers’ while at work.
Aduroja maintained that the hazardous nature of the seafaring professional requires fervent prayers in furtherance for God’s divine protection at sea.
Highpoints of the event was the mass service put together by Reverend Father Gabriel Feyisetan, boarding of foreign vessels at berth and visual goodwill messages by Secretary General of IMO, Mr. Lim Kitack and Secretary of NSWBN , Dr. Amos Hosea Kuje.
By Roland Ekama
