Union Vows To Visit Seafarers’ In Correctional Centres Yearly, Expresses Unfair Incarceration Of Seamen

By Roland Ekama

Still basking in the euphoria of the International Seafarers’ Day celebration, the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA) has reassured seamen in various correctional centres that the union will continue to show affection and concerns with relief materials annually.

National President , NMNOWTSSA, Engr. Bob Joseph Yousuo disclosed this during the Union’s visit to the Nigeria Correctional Service, Medium Security Custodial Centre Ikoyi, Lagos.

The National President who was accompanied by members across the four zones of the union, called on Nigerian seafarers’ who are non members to make themselves available and join the only recognized body by the Trade Union Congress, International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

He therefore enjoined all seafarers to join the union to be able to benefit immensely from the body.

According to him, seafarers’ in some of correctional centres are there for unjust and unfair reasons, but added that the union has limitations on how to involve themselves for their freedom

DAILY FOCUS NIGERIA reports that the leadership of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA) on Wednesday, doled out good stuff, toiletries and beverages worth over N2 million to seafarers in Ikoyi Correctional Center.

The gesture according to the President, is in commemoration of the Seafarers Day celebration which held on June 25th.

Comrade Yousuo said that the motive was borne out of the passion to reach out to the inmates who are either sentenced or awaiting trials

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) affiliate group leader stated that the items.would help provide succour for the inmates

He noted that”This week is seafarers week, yesterday was our day and we decided to use this day to remember our brothers who are suffering at the correction centre and to bring sone items for them to tell them that we love them and that we are still with them

“Fortunately, we were able to see some detained seafarers but few of them because there is restriction due to the cholera outbreak

“It is so said that a master who I know was one of those being detained and I felt like shedding tears d we will have to d make it an annual event.

Continuing, the unionist affirmed that:”We must touch all the seafarers and also advise them that when they gain their freedom, they should join a body like Merchant Navy so that in case of situations like these, the union will take up their matters.

“I have decided that I will make it an annual event to visit seafarers in the prison to cater for them and show them that we still love them

On spreading the kind gestures to other African countries, Comrade Yousuo quipped that seafarers who are part of the union are the ones that can benefit from the union saying he cannot spend the money contributed by members for those who are not part of the union.

According to him, being an ITF helmsman in Africa does not guarantee him giving out check off dies paid by financial members in non financial members of the union

 

Some.of the items donated to the inmate seafarers include- Bags of rice, cartons of spaghetti, bags of garri, bags of salt, cartons of bottle water, cartons of noodles , palm oil, vegetable oil, and assort toiletries.

Items distributed to the inmate seafarers include- Bags of rice, cartons of spaghetti, bags of garri, bags of salt, cartons of bottle water, cartons noodles , palm oil, vegetable oil, and assort toiletries.