Contrary to claim in government quarters that Nigeria has ratified the all-important Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, Shipping Position Daily can confirm that Nigeria is not one of the 35 nations that have so far ratified it.
To come into force, the MLC had to be ratified by at least 30 member states .The 30th nation actually ratified the MLC2006 on August 20, 2012. The MLC will come into force on August 20, 2013.
Recently, the Minister of Labour; Chief Emeka Nwogu was quoted as saying that the MLC has been ratified by Nigeria.
Contrary to claim in government quarters that Nigeria has ratified the all-important Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, Shipping Position Daily can confirm that Nigeria is not one of the 35 nations that have so far ratified it.
To come into force, the MLC had to be ratified by at least 30 member states .The 30th nation actually ratified the MLC2006 on August 20, 2012. The MLC will come into force on August 20, 2013.
Recently, the Minister of Labour; Chief Emeka Nwogu was quoted as saying that the MLC has been ratified by Nigeria.
But, last week when Shipping Position Daily sought to know the status of Nigeria, it was discovered that France was the last country to sign and that Nigeria shared the unenviable rating with countries like Ghana, Cameroun, Cote d ‘ Iviore and most West African countries.
However, according to the records of the ILO, apart from the MLC2006, Nigeria has ratified all of eight ‘Fundamental Conventions’, 29 out of 177 ‘Technical Conventions’ and two out four ‘Governance Conventions’, which the ILO considers as priority.
She has also ratified the Labour Inspection (Seafarers) Convention, the Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers Convention and the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention. According to the global organisation, “Out of 39 Conventions ratified by Nigeria, of which 35 are in force, four Conventions have been denounced; none have been ratified in the past 12 months”.
Shipping Position Daily confirmed last week that , one of the priority conventions that Nigeria is yet to ratify is the Unemployment Indemnity (Shipwreck) Convention, 1920 (No. 8). Another is, Placing of Seamen Convention, 1920 (No. 9)
Even though mails sent to the ILO requesting for the actual status of Nigeria on the controversial issue of ratification of the MLC were unreplied, our findings revealed that only Togo, Benin Republic and Liberia have signed in West Africa.
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