Just when stakeholders thought it had stabilised and was recovering from years of mismanagement and near-comatose, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron, Akwa Ibom state is embroiled in another round of crises.
Presently, a section of the workforce is alleging that the Rector Commodore Duja Effedua (rtd) has sat on the staff’s December2018 salary. This is causing disaffection across departments and offices in the school.
A member of the Academy’s Staff Union who doesn't want his name in print disclosed also to our reporter that aside the salary arrears, the management of the school has refused to appoint key officers such as registrar, bursar and librarian, who are three key management staff that are essential in the day-to- day running of the institution, he alleged that the Rector prefers using junior staff on acting capacity. The union also said that their executives had been demanding for their December 2018 salary from the Rector, but he has yet to offer any response.
According to the source, “the delay in the payment of our last December salary and allowances is causing stress on lecturers because for many of our members, that is the substantial source of their revenue. If the delay issue cannot be resolved, it is going to create tension which might affect learning.
“Aside, how could it be said that over a year after the management of the academy placed an advert asking for qualified Nigerians to apply, they have not seen anyone one who is qualified to fill the positions of Registrar, Bursar and Librarian. For over a year, those appointed have been on acting capacity and do not have any say when it comes to critical issues”, the member of staff said.
Apart from the issue of salary and appointments of Principal staff, investigations carried out by Shipping Position Daily have revealed that the school still operates without a simulator.
NIMASA by law is responsible for funding of the institution by providing 5 per cent of its revenue to the school.
Our correspondent gathered from impeccable sources that the school received its allocation from the agency last year.
Shipping Position Daily also recall that the Rector of the Academy, Commodore Duja Effedua (rtd) had stated earlier this year that some Indians who are partnering with the school to ensure provision of necessary equipment will arrive at the school to visit the simulation centre to take note of the necessary measurement.
Sources said three months after the visit of the Indian partners, the school is yet to fix the simulator, which is a major criterion for the training of cadets.
In a chat with the President of Nigerian Association of Masters Mariners, Capt Tajudeen Alao, on the importance of a simulator to the training of maritime cadets and why Maritime Academy in Nigeria is running programmes without a simulator, he said he had no idea whether the academy had issues with the simulator.
He said, “I am not aware of that (simulator), I know they have a simulator and they have an agreement with some Indians to come and install and run them and that was some months ago, so I don't know whether that has been done, but I think the school should be able to tell you the position of that”
"We had a meeting with the rector of the school and my understanding is that the Indians want to come and install it” he said.
When confronted with the allegations, the Public Relation Officer of the school, Mr. Pitt Nelson, refused to comment. He said he would require the permission of the Rector.
"Please sir, I cannot comment on that, you can make your investigation, I cannot say anything until I get the go ahead from my Chief Executive “, he said.
All efforts made by our correspondent to reach the Rector were unsuccessful. His known telephone number did not connect.
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