The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has threatened to picket vessels that sail on Nigerian waters without complying with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006.
Addressing journalists on the sidelines, of the world seafarers day celebrations organised by the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Calabar, Cross River State, the President, Seamen branch of the union, Comrade Frances Bunu said that with the flag-off MLC 2006 last week, it is not going to be business as usually for shipping lines operating in Nigeria waters.
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has threatened to picket vessels that sail on Nigerian waters without complying with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006.
Addressing journalists on the sidelines, of the world seafarers day celebrations organised by the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Calabar, Cross River State, the President, Seamen branch of the union, Comrade Frances Bunu said that with the flag-off MLC 2006 last week, it is not going to be business as usually for shipping lines operating in Nigeria waters.
Comrade Bunu reiterated that with the collaboration of the two maritime unions; namely: the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria and its counterpart from the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, and in partnership with NIMASA , ships plying the nation's waters must comply to the MLC 2006 for it to succeed.
According to him, the MLC is for the betterment of seafarers and the ships that trade on the nation's maritime domain must comply.
He lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for ensuring that the right persons are at the helm of affairs at the apex maritime regulatory agency, stressing that there is the need for the president to increase the budgetary allocation for NIMASA.
The seamen also called on the President of Nigeria to provide helicopters for the agency in order for it to monitor clandestine activities of vessels that operate in the nation's coastline on the high sea.
Bunu also disclosed that the United States of America (USA) is yet to ratify the MLC 2006, even as he lauded NIMASA for the implementation of the convention.
"As a union we have travelled out of the country and we find out that Nigeria through NIMASA is ahead of a country like USA. And it is left for the unions that any ships that do not obey the MLC 2006 must obey the rules and as a trade and labour unions we will continue to picket those ships, furthermore it is not going to be business as usual , whether they like it or not it has become an international law", he threatened.
Speaking further he said, "any shipping company that wants to trade with Nigeria must comply with the MLC before any discussions about their business and the MLC is not meant for the ship owners alone and what is important here is the will of NIMASA , the unions and the federal government to come together and be able to fight them (ship owners), therefore jobs that are meant for our seafarers must be given to them".
He added that the unions cannot be bought over by the shipping lines, adding that the level at which NIMASA was able to ratify and now implement the MLC 2006 is commendable.
Bunu pointed out that the MLC 2006, which is a bill of right for seafarers needs no explanatory excuse on the part of the ship owners because of its tripartite agreement.
He further assured that “with the effort of NIMASA and the trade unions , shipping companies will have to do what is right because we shall continue or beam our searchlights on them.
Also addressing the gathering, Scribe of the Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association Comrade Julius Efokpor lauded the agency for celebrating the historic day with seafarers.
He said MLC 2006, as a tripartite agreement need not be treated with aggression.
The secretary general also pointed out that, “with our telescope in place we will see what our employers will do as regard this MLC and we know that MLC will not be a curse to our seafarers because this time around we are going to use our telescope properly on them so that it will not end up like that of the Cabotage".
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