Even as the nation awaits the take-off of the proposed new national carrier for the nation’s maritime industry, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), has cautioned that the project should not be subjected to political considerations that could truncate it.
The union also threatened that failure on the part of the government to float the national carrier under the current dispensation as promised may lead to a campaign against the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2019.
Secretary General of the union; Comrade Aham Ubani who represented the President General of MWUN; Comrade Anthony Nted gave the charge on Saturday at an event to mark 2016 seafarers day in Lagos.
Ubani also wants the government to be proactive when dealing when with the maritime unions as part of efforts to rebuild national fleet.
The union's scribe urged the Buhari-led government to be pragmatic, stressing that a robust national fleet is key for maritime growth.
Ubani told the gathering that: “When the new minister of transportation came on board, I heard him talk about resuscitation of national carrier or call it whatever name"
"Some voices opposed it, but today we are saying Nigerians need it, the economy needs it and the situation of the country needs it"
"It shouldn't be political talk anymore to re-float a national carrier, there is a way people in Warri make their phrase, which is talkunado and we want the government to be talkunado"
"Let the government be talkunado because the economy is going down , the price of crude oil is going down ", he stressed.
Ubain further said revamping of national fleet will bring about diversification, which in turn will encourage people to invest in the maritime sector.
Speaking on the recent meeting with the Director General of the Nigerian maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Ubani described the DG as an administrator who listens to unions on how to better the lot of seafarers, adding that the day set aside for seafarers is not meant for lamentation, but to reflect on the fortunes of the economy and seamen.
He however expressed optimism that with the new DG of NIMASA, better days are ahead for the seafarers because, according to him, the agency's boss has shown interest in ensuring that lives of the seafarers experience some level of positive change.
The secretary general however appealed to the DG NIMASA and the minister of transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi to be pro-active in the quest to re- float a national carrier for the sector.
Also speaking at the event tagged "Day At Sea For All", President, Seaman Branch MWUN, Comrade Francis Bunu maintained that ‘’gone are the days when government would make empty promises to unions’’.
Towing the line of Ubani, Bunu consequently threatened, "this time around we voted them into power and if they did not do it for us we will vote them out of power as far as I am concerned".
He disclosed that the DG had appealed to the unions to forget about past administration despite the disappointments, assuring that the present administration has put in place measures to effectivekly manage the current situation.
Also speaking, Director, Administration and Human Resources of NIMASA, Mr. Jubril Ibrahim who represented the DG NIMASA said this years' campaign is aimed at creating awareness that seafarers are indispensable.
He said non-payment of wages and salary of seafarers by their employers will soon be a thing of the past because it is becoming rampant.
The NIMASA top man also confirmed that the agency is inundated with cases of non-payment of seafarers by their employers.
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