Lucky Amiwero (President NCMDLCA)
Lucky Amiwero (President NCMDLCA)
Domestication of the convention is never the issue when assessing MLC 2006 because the lead agency which is NIMASA is not ready to apply what is at stake. It is not enough for us to ratify that convention rather it is the will power that will back it after it has being ratified. So many conventions in this country have been domesticated yet they are still hanging as laws. NIMASA is the agency to apply it but it appears the man at the helms of affairs is incompetent or he is not having the political will. But above all, if we should domesticate MLC 2006 then we must be ready to apply it.
Engineer Matthew Alalade (President Merchant Navy)
There is no success so far recorded as regards MLC 2006 since its ratification 2013 because the ship owners are finding it difficult to key into the tripartite arrangement. The non-domestication of seafarers’ bill of right makes it difficult for the ship owners to do the rightful things to better the lots of our members. The body that was set up to update the arrangement for it to be effective is not functional at the moment and above all NIMASA is perceived to be docile in all of this because they are supposed to be in the forefront in ensuring that MLC 2006 is executed and implemented. We can only pray that this MLC 2006 did not go the way of the Cabotage Act which has not helped the indigenous operators in anyway because substantive arrest has not been made by the agency on those that fails to comply with the convention and since the convention has not been domesticated it will be difficult to achieve any form of success.
Comrade Matthew Adele (Dockworker)
The convention is a milestone achievement in Nigeria maritime history, if there is continuous dialogue among the various parties involved in it . To a certain level it is poorly implemented at the moment since it has not been domesticated in ensuring and enabling decent working and living conditions for seafarers. I believe it’s a knock on NIMASA and minister of transport for failing to do what is right for MLC 2006 to succeed and allow fair competition among ship owners in Nigeria. The ratification cannot bring about decent working environment for seafarers, because it has not been domesticated, but when it is done this will create opportunities for Nigeria government to mandate ship owners to put in place medical care, sick benefit, old age benefit, maternity benefit, burial assistances, accident free allowance and other incentives for them.
Mr. Tunji Obagbo (POTEMAN)
Experts had predicted that in the next six months after the ratification in 2013, it will be domesticated but this is 2015 and nothing has been done for MLC 2006 to change the situation of the seafarers. My fear again is that we have some cabals that are trying to frustrate efforts made by the authority in charge for MLC 2006 to succeed in Nigeria. Again NIMASA is not helping matters and not until the round peg is placed in the round hole, it will be difficult for the convention to excel because most people at the helms of affair in NIMASA seems not to understand the importance of the convention and that is why the incoming administration must ensure to put in place technocrats to solve the issue delaying the seafarers bill of right.
Comrade Owolabi Omotayo (Water Transporter)
If you look at the country now you will see a lot of policy somersault and inconsistencies, you can also see that the local content policies of the government are being sabotaged by foreign operators and our policy supervisors. In a situation whereby our indigenous shipowners are not having standard vessels, I don't see how they can assert any pressure on the implementation of the MLC 2006, this is why a lot of stakeholders are talking about the maritime bank to assist the operators, especially the indigenous shipowners to acquire standard vessels that NNPC can engage for contract and thereby engage our teeming seafarers. The incoming government should look at assisting the indigenous shipowners to acquire standard vessels so that the MLC 2006 can now be enforced.
Comrade Peter Ojelatan (MWUN)
I believe Nigeria needs to respect any international convention as a member of the IMO and the ILO, Nigeria cannot be isolated from the rest of the world on the implementation of the MLC 2006. There are challenges on the ground as I can see, formulation of policies is good in Nigeria but the implementation has always been our challenge, but I believe that with time Nigeria will comply with the MLC 2006 implementation, the condition establishing the Nigerian shipowners is still there, let them be given money to buy ships so that seafarers can be employed, but our major problem is corruption, it will not allow this to be fulfilled.
Increase Uche (National Secretary, NAGAFF)
From my knowledge of the MLC 2006, it was meant to create a standardized welfare package for seafarers all over the world, but in Nigeria there are factors militating against the implementation of this policy, first among them are the lack of vessels and the will power by the lead agency which is NIMASA to get the MLC implemented. Seafaring is an international business governed by conventions, but the Nigerian system does not favour our seafarers, they don't have jobs, and without jobs there will be a problem with MLC. What government should do now is to acquire vessels and go back to the era of NNSL, we should not be thinking of exporting our seafarers alone, let us start it from home first because charity begins at home.Ratification or domestication will not work in Nigeria if we don't have vessels.
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