A seafarers’ group; the Merchant Navy Senior Staff and Water Transporters Association has called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to set up a special task force which will include the union to help implementation of the Cabotage Act.
These were part of demands tabled by the union during a meeting with NIMASA's Executive Director in charge of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services; Mr. Gambo Ahmed and other top shots of the agency last week Apapa.
While briefing Shipping Position Daily on the outcome of the meeting yesterday, it's National Secretary, Comrade Julius Effrokpor alleged that NIMASA has not done enough on Cabotage implementation; rather, he said that the law has now become a curse to seafarers.
Comrade Effrokpor said there is an urgent need to set up a task force in partnership with the union, saying that the seafarers know better what the challenges are, and where shoe pitches.
He raised alarm that some of the surveyors, port state and flag state control officers appointed by NIMASA to board vessels do not carry out proper check of Certificate of Competency (COC) of most foreign nationals on-board vessels.
"We have asked the agency to set up a task force that would embrace the union in ensuring that the Cabotage Act is properly implemented"
"When the Cabotage law was passed into law, all of us were dancing hallelujah, but now it has become a curse, so they should do more to ensure that the law succeeds. Although some people are now calling for the law to be reviewed, but we believe that NIMASA has not done enough in matters of execution of the act"
"So, we are asking NIMASA to establish a task force and get the union to work with them" he said
However, Comrade Effrokpor told Shipping Position Daily that NIMASA's Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Gambo Ahmed and Director of Maritime Labour; Mrs Juliana Gunwa had kicked against the suggestions by the union.
According to him, the NIMASA top shots, expressed concern that, setting up the task force is like handing over one of the statutory functions of the agency over to someone else.
"Mrs Gunwa said the fear they (NIMASA) have is that we would take over their job. They said it is their statutory function"
"On the task force, we as union would only be there as members, most of the time we are the ones working on-board, we are the ones suffering, we wear the shoes so we know where the shoes pitches, so we would be able to ask questions"
"Like I said the other day, the port state control and flag state control go on-board, they know what to ask for, they are trained, but they would not verify the certificates, the captain would just tell them by mouth that the crew has certificate, they would not ask to see the originals to ensure they are genuine" he said
The union also asked NIMASA to ensure that manning agents and seafarers employers give recognition to the union and collect dues on-board payable to the union.
In the area of MLC 2006 implementation, he said there has been an increase in level of compliance by operators.
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