The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association has passed a vote of no confidence on the acting Rector and Registrar of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron in Akwa Ibom State; Mr. Mpandiok Ante Mpandiok.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC)-affiliate seafarers’ group also condemned remarks credited to the acting rector that academy produces half-baked seafarers.
Secretary General of the Union; Comrade Julius Efokpor told Shipping Position Daily, exclusively last week in Lagos that the registrar cum acting rector does not have the requisite knowledge to lead the school to the promise land.
Efokpor reiterated that if MAN Oron over the years has churned out half-baked seafarers, then, he is also responsible for the failed system, considering the fact that he has been a top management officer of the academy for over a decade.
The union's scribe affirmed that cadets from the nautical school have what it takes to compete with other maritime institutions worldwide, noting that despite the challenges faced by the school, some notable personalities have proven to be competent on the job.
He also accused management of MAN Oron for failing to make do with the GDMSS simulator supplied by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to the school in time past, saying that negligence on the part of management in 2005 made the equipment to rot way.
The scribe maintained that too much of reliance by MAN Oron on NIMASA has led to so many setbacks in the area of the school's growth.
"His coming as the acting rector is not far-fetched because even himself is not qualified to head the school ", he alleged.
Efopkor also called on management of the academy t to engage retired master mariners as lecturers , noting that, "apart from lack of sea time for the cadets, there is also the need for experience lecturers with practical and theoretical experiences to be encouraged to come on board "
He said "the rector of MAN Oron is supposed to be a seafarer, master mariner and a professional who would be able to inspect the lecturers whenever lectures are on-going”.
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