The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officer and Water Transport Senior Staff Association on Wednesday , canvassed for the Minister of Transportation, Gbemi Saraki to intervene and caution ship owners on the need for prompt payment of wages noting that salaries are to be paid as at when due .
The union also stated that seafarers should not be criminalized and punished for following the order of ship-owners, manager or charterer.
National President of the seafarers union, Comrade Bob Yousou disclosed this during a Town Hall meeting with the Transport Minister in Lagos.
According to him, cabotage vessels should be compelled to accommodate at least two cadets per vessel for their cadetship training.
Yousou further suggested for the Minister to prioritize the upgrade of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron in Akwa Ibom State to international standard stressing the need for her to look into the area of standards and certification.
On the area of bilateral agreement , the President advocated for NIMASA to sign an MOU with other flag states alongside other maritime nations and multinationals in order to enhance the ability of seafarers holding the Certificate of Competency COC thus get placement and due recognition.
“The Federal Government owned Maritime Institutions (ORON, should be given International look to meet international standard and recognition so as to have the opportunity of issuing Class II & I COCs.
“By this the brain drain of our Nigerian Seafarers travelling overseas for the above class (COC) will be reduce to the barest minimal.
“All Cabotage vessels should be mandated to allow/accommodate at least (2) Two Cadets per vessel for their cadetship training.
“Mental health challenge among Seafarers is rising; NIMASA should ensure that Ship owners, Managers and Charterer take mental health of Seafarers seriously.
Also, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) affiliate group called on the Minister to tackle the issues of vessels abandonment at sea , urging her to compel the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to champion a crusade on wreck removal for the nation’s territorial waters.
He maintained that the apex maritime regulatory agency should look inward and enter into partnership in form of Public/Private partnership (PPP) to acquire vessels for training and commercial purpose.
He also tasked the government to review National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) in furtherance for shipping companies to have Collective Bargaining Agreement CBA.
“We urge NIMASA to sign bilateral agreement with other flag States, Multinational, other Maritime Countries and Institutions in order to enhance the ability of our Seafarers holding our COC to get placement and due recognition.
“The National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) should be review as a matter of urgency and all the shipping companies be made to have CBA in their respective companies with the unions
“NIMASA should lead a global crusade against ship abandonment, wrecks and abandoned vessels should be off our waters.
“NIMASA should consider going under partnership in form of Public/Private partnership (PPP) to acquire vessels for training and commercial purpose.
By Roland Ekama
Caption:
Some top leaders from the seafaring unions with the Minister of Transportation, Gbemi Saraki during a Town Hall meeting held in Lagos on Wednesday
