The Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) yesterday described the ratification of Maritime Labour Convention, MLC 2006, as a demonstration of Nigeria's commitment to the welfare of its seafarers.
The agency's Director-General, Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, made the assertion at a special session with shipowners, seafarers, employers and manning agents ahead of the June 18, 2014 implementation of the MLC 2006 in Lagos. It was ratified on June 18, 2013.
The Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) yesterday described the ratification of Maritime Labour Convention, MLC 2006, as a demonstration of Nigeria's commitment to the welfare of its seafarers.
The agency's Director-General, Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, made the assertion at a special session with shipowners, seafarers, employers and manning agents ahead of the June 18, 2014 implementation of the MLC 2006 in Lagos. It was ratified on June 18, 2013.
He said the country would benefit in the area of technical support and training from International Labour Organisation (ILO).
“It is through the support of ILO that 25 NIMASA labour inspectors were trained; we will also benefit through technical cooperation with other ILO members,'' he said.
Akpobolokemi said the session was part of the process to actualise the plans to create conducive working condition for seafarers and for them to know their rights and obligations.
He said that NIMASA has facilitated the training of over 700 seafarers on the Standard Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) to enable them update their mandatory certification.
He urged stakeholders in the industry to facilitate the achievement of the MLC objectives so that Nigerian seafarers would be placed on Nigerian and foreign flagged vessels.
Akpobolokemi was represented by Mr Haruna Joro, Director, Finance and Administration, in NIMASA.
Also, a Director at Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity; Mrs Teresa Braima, said that the ILO would be on the look out to see how Nigeria goes about implementing the convention.
“There are things we will not benefit from if we do not implement the convention; the ILO will monitor us to ensure we are doing the right thing," Braima said.
She urged NIMASA to ensure that information by employers and workers' organisations were correct so that the image of the country would be protected.
Braima also advised the workers to know their obligations because the ILO helps countries in legislation and practice to bring them in line with the obligation under ratified instruments.
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