The Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transporters Senior Staff Association has debunked reports making the rounds that it was calling for the removal of chairman of the National Seafarers Welfare Board; Otunba Kunle Folarin.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily at the weekend, President of the association, Engr Mathew Alalade commended the board for fighting the course of seafarers in Nigeria. According to him, the board has been going to Port Harcourt and Warri to see to the welfare of seafarers that are not being treated well.
Our correspondent gathered that the Secretary General of the association, Comrade Julius Efforkpo had spoken in the media recently, allegedly calling for the removal of Otunba Folarin for daring to exonerate the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) from the plight of seafarers who are in prisons.
Giving an insight into what happened, the association’s president said: "My Secretary General’s intentions is not to castigate anybody, it is not that we have any grouse against the seafarers welfare board, we cannot shoot ourselves in the leg"
"The impression came when we went to visit the Ikoyi Prisons and we saw the plight of our people there and later hearing Otunba Folarin saying that NIMASA is not responsible for the plight of the seafarers, this statement really angered concerned seafarers as to why didn’t NIMASA as custodian of seafarers come out to talk, why is it the seafarers welfare chairman that is talking, this was why we granted the interview, it is not to tarnish anybody’s image".
"The truth is that the seafarers welfare board has trustees and the truth is that Otunba Kunle Folarin and the secretary Kuje, a public servant, has been our friend and have been helping us. The report has brought a negative impression", he admitted.
Alalade also disclosed that trustees of the seafarers welfare board are trustees for life, and that a former Chairman of NIMASA; Alhaji Tijjani Ramalan is the Chairman.
"The position is not rotational, it is just like an NGO or a voluntary organisation, they don't get fund from anywhere, they source for funds, it is the stakeholders that fund it. Folarin and others are only there to ensure that the board is functioning"
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