The National Assembly has thrown its weight behind last week submission of the Instrument of Ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), saying it will hasten the process of domestication of the all-important convention.
The assurance was given last week in Geneva, Switzerland by the chairmen of the House of Representatives committees on Treaties and Agreements; Hon Yakub Alebiosu and his counterpart in committee on Labour and Productivity; Hon Essien Ekpeyong.
The National Assembly has thrown its weight behind last week submission of the Instrument of Ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), saying it will hasten the process of domestication of the all-important convention.
The assurance was given last week in Geneva, Switzerland by the chairmen of the House of Representatives committees on Treaties and Agreements; Hon Yakub Alebiosu and his counterpart in committee on Labour and Productivity; Hon Essien Ekpeyong.
The duo spoke at a dinner to commemorate the historic submission, where they also commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Minister of transport as well as that of Labour and productivity for ensuring that the convention was ratified by the Federal Government.
Emphasising that the responsibility of domesticating the convention rest squarely on the shoulder of the National Assembly, Hon Alebiosu observed that, “yes, everyone is excited, but that should be after domestication”.
“We are looking forward to receiving the instrument and I want to assure you that we will do everything to fast track the process of ratification”, he told the high profile guest who had thronged out for the dinner.
And expressing total support for what Alebiosu said, his labour and productivity counterpart; Hon Ekpeyong equally stressed that: “Immediately it comes, we will fast track it and ensure that it is passed”.
But speaking a little earlier, the executive director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Barister Callistus Obi had assured the guests of the agency’s total commitment to the final lap of turning the MLC 2006 domestication into a reality.
He stated that the agency’s director general; Mr Ziakede Akpobolokemi is totally committed to seeing the process through. Speaking on behalf of the N IMASA DG, the executive director gave the assurances of total commitment of NIMASA.
“I want to assure you that NIMASA will drive the process in terms of finance and logistics and everything”, he stressed.
Drawing a close link between the MLC and NIMASA’s manpower development, the executive director eulogised the agency’s foresight, especially with its National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), which according to him, has already seen about 1500 youths being sent to various maritime schools outside the country for various course n nautical science, marine engineering, naval architecture and others.
The dinner was graced by the Minister of Labour and productivity; Chief Emeka Nwogu who congratulated Nigeria on the MLC feat, but also emphasised that the journey to a better life for Nigerian seafarers has just begun.
The minister equally assured that he and the ministry will stand by the maritime industry and its players to ensure that the MLC is not only domesticated, but to also ensure that it benefits the seafarers.
Earlier, the minster had said while handing-over the instrument to the Director General of the ILO; Mr Guy Ryder that: “Nigeria has decided to join other countries that have ratified this very important Convention known as the seafarers’ bill of rights in order to safeguard the fundamental rights of the seafarers and ship owners. Today marks the beginning of a journey that will take Nigerians to a higher level in the maritime industry”,
According to him, last week’s occasion “brings back memories of the active participation of Nigeria in the arduous task of the member states of the ILO to consolidate 68 maritime labour conventions into one single instrument. This process, which lasted for a period of five years, eventually culminated in the adoption of this landmark convention.
The need for international labour standards for the protection of seafarers and ship owners have long been recognised as the shipping industry is one of the oldest organised sectors in the world today”.
The ILO Director General, Mr. Guy Ryder, while accepting the Instrument expressed appreciation to Nigerian for ratifying the convention and coming forth with the Instrument of Ratification.
He also confirmed that Nigeria is the 38th nation to ratify and submit the Instrument, even as he disclosed that the 38 countries that have so far ratified the Convention account for 69% of world total ship tonnage.
Also speaking after the instrument had been submitted, the former executive chairman of the then- Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council (JOMALIC); Alhaji Tijjani Ramallan went down the memory lane and recalled that the struggle to get the MLC for seafarers actually started in 2005.
Acknowledging that the convention and the feat that was achieved by Nigeria should be sustained by ensuring that it is domesticated by the National Assembly earnestly, he stressed that getting it ratified and submitting the instrument to the ILO is an important milestone for Nigeria as a maritime nation.
On his part, the chairman of National Seafarers Welfare Board; Otunba Kunle Folarin harped on the need to begin to concentrate on givng adequate training to Nigerian seafarers and make them to be employable, saying that the MLC is the beginning of greater things to come for the nations’ maritime sector.
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