The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has condemned the recent statement of President of Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA); Capt Niyi Labinjo that Nigerian seafarers are incompetent and that they engage in certificate buying and racketeering.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos yesterday, President of Seafarers Branch of MWUN, Comrade Francis Bunu described the statement of the NISA President as most uncharitable.
He challenged the shipowners to come forward and tell the world where certificates are being sold and who are behind it.
Though he acknowledged the possibility of some bad eggs among seafarers as common in other sectors, he however alleged that the bad eggs are being encouraged by Nigerian Shipowners who fail to employ seafarers through the proper channels.
Bunu urged Nigerian shipowners to desist from the habit of 'roadside employment' of seafarers to man their ships, rather, they should consult the union and credible manning agents.
"If you say that seafarers are buying papers, the first question you should ask yourself is, where are they selling this papers, if there are such papers on the street of Lagos, then who is selling it, there might be one or two bad eggs among them, but this does not mean that seafarers are buying papers to go onboard"
"NIMASA is the agency in charge of seafarers’ certification, we just finished a training across the country for seafarers, companies are also training seafarers
Nigerian seafarers are among world best qualifies seafarers who can stand the test of time"
"It is the shipowners who engage in employing seafarers from road side, they should stop encouraging road side employment and one sided condition of service.
"They are supposed to contact the manning agents but they go directly to employ outside the manning agent and the union, let them do the proper thing and both parties would enjoy the game"
Bunu argued that no seafarers under the union in any shipping company is having such challenges of certificate controversy.
He urged the Federal Government to invest in the maritime sector by acquiring a vessel dedicated purposely for the purpose of providing seatime experience for Seafarers who are being trained yearly by NIMASA.
Charging the government, he said; "Before now, we have the National Unity Line (NUL) but today, where are the vessels? In as much as they (government) are gaining much from the maritime sector, they should also put in more attention into the sector"
"It is even the union and NIMASA that is now forcing foreign shipping companies to employ Nigerian seafarers, it's not supposed to be so, it is supposed to be the duty of government"
Comrade Bunu also said that the President General of MWUN has directed all units and districts of the union across Nigeria to carry out a proper documentation of seafarers.
"NIMASA have also discussed with us on the need to have credible seafarers documents that can be presented at any point in time, we know that it is not a day job, but we have started a process that will stand the test of time"
Also addressing our correspondent on the allegation by the NISA President, President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju stated that NIMASA’s efforts should be commended because over the years it has succeeded in training a lot of Nigerians abroad.
But the seafarers according to him have not done much over the years for the seafarers.
According to him, ”let the shipowner tell us where the fake certificates are, it is the government that is in charge of issuing certificates, and there isn't laid down international procedure and standard which NIMASA is adhering to strictly"
He commended the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for taking the case of Nigerian seafarers to the next level.
According to him, if past administration of NIMASA had done what Peterside has so far done for seafarers, they would have been better than they were.
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