Tunji Obagbo (POTEMAN)
The purpose of the MLC 2006 is to better the lives of the seafarers, which I believe is a good one and in as much we have domesticated it, it will succeed in Nigeria because it has worked in other parts of the world and if we work without prejudice in Nigeria, it will better the lots of our seafarers. It is long overdue and it came at the right time.
Capt. Ben Bekes (Marine Consultant)
Tunji Obagbo (POTEMAN)
The purpose of the MLC 2006 is to better the lives of the seafarers, which I believe is a good one and in as much we have domesticated it, it will succeed in Nigeria because it has worked in other parts of the world and if we work without prejudice in Nigeria, it will better the lots of our seafarers. It is long overdue and it came at the right time.
Capt. Ben Bekes (Marine Consultant)
It is supposed to better the lives of our seafarers, but I think the ground is not fully prepared for that because every nation in the world try to look at policy that suit its citizens and the seafarers are not left out. I think we have to be realistic because I don't think it will be beneficial to our seafarers considering the level of politics in the country even if it is an international affair and in my own opinion, I don't think it will better the lives of our seafarers, most especially when it is mere propaganda. We try to measure up with our foreign counterparts as regard the MLC, but are we fully equipped to that effect.?
Engineer Isaac Isunama (President AMERO)
It is supposed to better the lots of our seafarers, if they are engaged properly, but in this regard I don't think it is so because, come to think of it how many seafarers have been sensitize by NIMASA on the MLC 2006.
Rev. Mike Gbadebo (Mission to Seafarers)
I believe the MLC will bring about changes for our seafarers welfare whenever they are engaged on board vessels and I believe the agency involved which is NIMASA will help to make it work.
Mr Chima Sampson (Registrar, NIS)
Although the convention is a good one because everything that has to do with seafarers will be taking care of, but I will still continue to hammer on the federal government to create job for the seafarers most especially by engaging them with most of this foreign vessels. Apart from that we should look at vessel ownership under the Cabotage scheme, and also that of Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund which are still ongoing. Vessels owned by Nigerians are all aged and are not operational, so I still call on the federal government to look into it. I believe the Nigerian seafarers will benefit from it since the convention has been ratified; it is about the welfare which is also tide down to the ITF. But my problem is that most of the seafarers in Nigeria do not have vessels to board and this is one of the major problems they are facing today. Because if they are gainfully employed from year to year, then you can talk about their welfare.
Comrade John Okpono (Merchant Navy)
I think the Nigerian seafarers will benefit from it, because it is a tripartite arrangement by the ILO, it will bring union into play in the areas of their welfare. So, I think it is a welcome development and also it is one document covering all which is called bill of right of the seafarers. It is also a convention that is borne out of 65 conventions
Owolabi Omotayo (Water Transporter)
I am not optimistic about Nigeria benefiting from that convention, because we are at disadvantage in terms of our activities in the sub-region and in the world. Most of our activities are being carried out by foreigners because the sector is not organized and it’s not being empowered by the government, so the seafarers do not have vessels to work on, unlike before when we have the national line which had all the seafarers, but today we don't have any, the indigenous ship owners do not have the capability of owning new vessels that can employ the teeming population of seafarers in Nigeria, the vessels being brought in is by saboteurs who are not ready to contribute towards the development of the maritime sector, the vessels are being manned by foreign seafarers. So, I am not optimistic about the MLC 2006 benefiting Nigerian seafarers. Government needs to encourage the indigenous ship owners to own brand new vessels and not the ones refurbished in Europe and brought to our anchorage here.
Galtima Liman (Maritime Consultant)
The question we ought to ask is, what is the capacity of labour in the industry considering the size of the economy and even after the demise of the national shipping line. The second thing is the arrival of the private sector and the terminal operators, the introduction of capital intensive cranes and other equipment, even with these, capacity building and training has not been sustained for a number of years because the platform for training onboard labour and off-dock labour has not been there. So, whether or not Nigeria has acceded to any convention is not the issue, the issue is the old convention itself; how far have we utilized it? Do we even have seafarers? The MLC 2006 is an intention for positive growth, but what I am saying is that, given what we have on ground, the fact is that we don't have a national fleet robust enough to provide the platform, our young men are unemployed, this can only be generated by the existence of a national fleet which is lacking, the little effort being made by the Cabotage Act is a ding-dong affair still.
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